Report: There's 'Frustration' with Cam Newton in the Pats Organization and He's 'Opened a Window' for Mac Jones

Elise Amendola. Shutterstock Images.

It's been a day since the news bomb dropped that Cam Newton is going to have to miss five days of practice and in-person work at the Patriots team facility. 

Which might not be the hugest deal in a lot of situations. Established veterans miss time all the time. I mean, if say, Aaron Donald needs a few maintenance days in the middle of a long season, no Rams fan (they're rare, but they do exist), need lapse into panic that he's going to come back forgetting how to humiliate guards and centers. But Cam Newton, while definitely a veteran, is by no means established. Not in Foxboro, anyway. Since OTAs, he and Mac Jones have been Lincoln Hawk and Bull Hurley, and neither has moved the other's massive, powerful arm. 

So these days and this time Newton's missing counts. Especially with one preseason game left. Particularly with this hyper-detail oriented, preparation-obsessed coaching staff. As Belichick put it himself this morning, “If we couldn’t gain anything by practicing, why would we practice?” Fair point.

Still, it's been a day and we don't know anything more about what "misunderstanding" caused Newton to be put in the Covid Time Out Chair by the NFL. There's some speculation that, while he did get tested the whole time he was getting team approved medical treatment out of the area, the testing wasn't done by the only lab approved by the NFL/NFLPA agreement:

But that hasn't been confirmed. The Patriots have gone into the Information Lockdown mode they've had decades to perfect. And as expected, hasn't said a word other than that statement about the "misunderstanding." That is, until today. When a high ranking source shed a little light on what's being discussed inside the walls of Mr. Kraft's impenetrable fortress:

Big, if true. 

What we do know is that Newton hasn't gotten vaccinated. Because if he did, under the rules he'd be in the practice huddle right now. And if the Patriots organization is anything like the rest of the world (Note: It is, only better at everything), than no doubt some of that "frustration" comes from whatever screw up led to the violation of protocols. But most is directed at his decision not to get vaccinated. That's speculation on my part, for sure. But it's informed by the fact that half the news reports, articles, public statements, personal and social media conversations you deal with now are about this very topic. 

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Right or wrong, people who have refused to get vaccinated are getting blamed for causing "frustration," when not being straight up vilified. Note that I'm not here to debate the morality of pro-vax vs. anti-vax. I'll let the world do that. Though I will suggest that maybe the people calling the shots in this country need to be held accountable for the fact that about 45% of adults - across all political, cultural, ethnic, racial and religious categories - don't believe a fucking word they say about how the shots are good for them. Once we put this pandemic in our rearview, let's address why no one trusts the people in power.

Again, I'm just here to talk about the Patriots and Newton. And I have a hard time believing that the Patriots management is an exception when it comes to dealing with anti-vaxxers. Even when it comes to their presumptive starter at their most important position. You can see where they love the player and all he's done for the organization. But just from a preparedness standpoint, it's not unreasonable for them to question handing the helm of the ship over to a captain who might get sick at sea. Or have to go into lockdown every so often for some violation of the rules, major or minor. 

The league has two sets of rules. And that's not unfair. Everyone agreed to them. And it's a big ask to expect a franchise to go forward counting on someone whose availability is going to be in doubt week-to-week. Hell, Jimmy Garoppolo has missed time with completely legitimate football injuries so the Niners mortgaged their draft future to get his replacement. 

It would just be wild if, after one of the great offseason quarterback battles the NFL has seen in years, if it all comes down to Newton's reluctance to take a shot. Clearly the team sees this as Jones' opportunity to prove he deserves the starter's role. And this situation with Newton gives them cover if that's how it plays out over the course of this week. They can argue it was close, but ultimately it came down to Newton's decision. That refusing the jab cost him his job.