Patriots rally around Belichick amid COVID-19 outbreak
The New England Patriots have canceled practice amid reports that a third player has tested positive for the coronavirus. – The New England Patriots activated quarterback Cam Newton from the NFL's COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday. Three Patriots remain on the COVID-19 reserve list: cornerback Stephon Gilmore, defensive tackle Byron Cowart and practice squad DT Bill Murray. New England players say they have found an ally in coach Bill Belichick amid growing local criticism of the NFL’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bill has done a good job of (saying), ‘Hey, this is forever kind of changing, it’s very fluid,’” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said.
Newton feeling thankful, not pressure taking over as Pats QB
– There are a lot of things Cam Newton is feeling as he prepares to take the field Sunday to succeed Tom Brady as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. “Pressure is when you’re looking at your children and you’re saying you’re 31 and you don’t know. “So for me, I’m elated, I’m excited, I’m all that and a bag of chips because I knew that if God didn’t show favor over me, man, who knows where I’d be right now,” he said. It was just four years ago that Jacoby Brissett became the first Black quarterback to start for New England in 2016. A lot of eyes will be on him, including from his new teammates who will also be reveling in seeing Newton take the field.
AP source: Cam Newton to be Patriots starting quarterback
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton walks to the field for an NFL football training camp practice, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. Cam Newton is officially the new starting quarterback of the New England Patriots. A person familiar with the situation said Thursday that Newton was announced as the starter during a team meeting. The move was expected after the 2015 league MVP outperformed second-year Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer during training camp. Theres been some things that a lot of people may have not known about me prior to (joining the Patriots), Newton said.
Patriots hope winning still in fashion for new QB Newton
But whether Cam Newton and Bill Belichick can take the New England Patriots back to the Super Bowl is going to be more about football than fashion. The Patriots have turned to the former Panthers quarterback to replace Tom Brady, who defected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 19 years, six Super Bowls and three NFL MVP awards. Newton gets his fresh start in New England after nine seasons in Carolina, where his own MVP-winning career had stalled because of injuries. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft, Newton peaked in 2015, when he was the NFL MVP after leading the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance. If he's healthy, he gives the Patriots something even Brady didnt: a mobile QB who challenges defenses to chase him and bring him down.