Patriots News: Bill Belichick, Jonathan Kraft, Cam Newton, and Calvin Ridley

Cam Newton open to playing for the Falcons - could be a Bill Belichick reunion

Among the few players not currently in the NFL but are open to returning, Cam Newton continues to top the list as the most talked about. Because he never officially retired and has hinted at possibly returning to football if the right opportunity came about, his name is always in the conversation regarding a comeback.

The quarterback has discussed it on his podcast "4th & 1" numerous times and again this week during an appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football.

Newton was a guest on the show alongside close friend and current tour mate Brandon Marshall, who asked him what the top three teams in the league are that he would be interested in playing for if they made the call.

"It’s not even three. It’s just really one. Me having a family now, it’s always been about family, and I don’t see myself leaving Atlanta. If it’s not Atlanta, I don’t want to do it.”

Stressing the importance of remaining with his family, Newton ironically chose the Falcons, who have been interviewing Bill Belichick for the vacant head coach position over the last two weeks.

If the quarterback were to return and play for his home team, he would reunite with his former head coach, whom he played under for one season as a Patriot in 2020. He remained with the team until the start of the following season but eventually returned to the team he saw the most success with, the Panthers.

It would be interesting to see if Belichick would be open to bringing Newton back into the league after he's been gone for the last three years. It didn't seem like the pair were a great match during their time in New England, but Newton has remained complimentary of his stint in Foxboro and his working relationship with the coach.