Cam Newton was not signed to be the New England Patriots’ backup QB

Cam Newton is not guaranteed anything by the Patriots, but he’s clearly not coming in to be Jarrett Stidham’s backup.

In any other NFL offseason, Cam Newton would have been signed fairly quickly after being released by the Carolina Panthers in March. But teams have not been able to have him in for a visit, and check out the shoulder and foot injuries that have derailed the last two seasons.

On Sunday night the New England Patriots took the plunge, signing the 2015 league MVP to a one-year incentive-laden deal that could be worth up to $7.5 million.

Since Tom Brady departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, every move the Patriots have made has been to push Jarrett Stidham as the starting quarterback for this year. He had four pass attempts in three regular season appearances as a rookie last year, but played a good bit last preseason and drew rare praise from head coach Bill Belichick.

Why Cam Newton will not be the New England Patriots backup QB

If Newton is healthy, he should no trouble usurping Stidham. When he has last completely healthy, with a line drawn pretty clearly after Carolina’s 6-2 start in 2018 and game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when he was hit on his throwing shoulder, Newton was playing some of the best football of his career.

2018-First eight games: 67.3 percent completion, 15 touchdown passes, four interceptions, 100.8 passer rating, 7.7 adjusted yards per attempt, 342 rushing yards

2018-Last six games (counting the Pittsburgh game): 68.8 completion percentage, nine touchdowns, nine interceptions, 85.9 passer rating, 6.1 adjusted yards per attempt, 146 rushing yards

Something was clearly wrong before Newton was shut down for the final two games in 2018. Last year’s two-game sample, with a foot injury that clearly limited him, should just be thrown out.

Having to learn a new offense and a new set of teammates is not ideal for any quarterback who switched teams in this abbreviated offseason, so Newton is not unique. But entering his 10th season, learning a new playbook shouldn’t be that hard in the rawest, simplest terms.

Stidham has the edge, has flimsy as it really is, of a year’s experience in the Patriots’ offense. But Newton is the far superior talent if he’s healthy, and hard to completely fake social media videos seem to show he’s throwing and moving around fine.

Belichick has made a no-risk bet that Newton is healthy, and will come in with a chip on his shoulder looking to prove the doubters wrong. A facade of equal competition will surely be maintained until further notice, but Newton is not coming to the Patriots to hold a clipboard for Stidham.