Patriots Quarterback Job Still Up For Grabs, But Bill Belichick Already Showed His Hand

Either Bill Belichick wants to keep his starting quarterback in Week 1 a secret, or maybe he hasn’t yet decided. 

I think he’s just trying to make everyone speculate that Mac Jones could start over Cam Newton.

Yes, Mac Jones got the first-team reps in practice when Newton was out due to COVID-19 protocols, but that didn’t stop Belichick from giving Newton the run with the first-team offense in the preseason.

Do you really think Belichick would run Jones with the second string in game action all preseason just to start him in Week 1? I mean, seriously, this was Cam’s job to lose, and he hasn't lost it yet. 

Jones was very solid in the preseason, moving his odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year on WynnBET all the way up to +700. Some will say that he even outplayed Newton, but again, a lot of that action came against backups. That’s not to say it should be totally discounted, but it is different than facing top-notch NFL defenses. 

Belichick has been adamant, as has offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, that Newton was the team’s starter until proven otherwise. Jones has come close to making this a real decision, but if Belichick was seriously contemplating a switch, he would have given Jones the start in Week 3 of the preseason. 

I could see Mac taking over at some point this season if Newton really struggles like he did later last season, but if the Patriots are winning, don’t expect Belichick to throw the rookie to the fire. 

He may be the master of deception with injuries, and which players are going to get the most touches on offense at times, but I think Belichick tipped his hand this preseason on who he wants to be his quarterback in Week 1.

Can the Patriots with Cam or Mac at quarterback? Download the WynnBET app.