New England Patriots: Re-signing Cam Newton is literal insanity

It is often said that “insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” Well, by that definition, the New England Patriots decision to re-sign quarterback Cam Newton was, quite literally, insane.

I mean, how else can you describe it? Newton was a flat-out terrible quarterback in 2020. In fifteen games, Cam threw just eight touchdown passes, good for 34th most in the NFL, and fifth most in the AFC East.

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Yes, you read that right. Newton threw the fifth most touchdown passes in a division with only four teams.

Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins had more touchdown passes than Newton. So did Nick Foles and Mitch Trubinsky of the Chicago Bears, as well as Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton of the Dallas Cowboys.

You know the old saying, “if you have two quarterbacks, you have none?” Well evidently, not one, not two, but three NFL teams without a quarterback still found themselves in better QB situations than the New England Patriots.

In fifteen starts in 2020, Newton threw for under 100 yards four times. He had twice as many games under 100 passing yards as he did over 300.

In other words, when Cam Newton stepped onto the field as the Patriots’ starting quarterback this past year, there was a 27% chance that he would throw for under 100 yards.

By comparison, since 2009, Tom Brady has thrown for under 100 yards in a game exactly once—a meaningless Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills in 2014, when he didn’t play during the second half.

Now, it should be worth noting that Newton’s terrible season was not entirely his fault. The Patriots’ receiving core was flat-out horrific in 2020. Over the course of the entire season, New England’s wide receivers and tight ends combined to catch just five touchdown passes.

By contrast, Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers caught five touchdown passes over a two-game stretch in late October/early November.

But to blame the Cam debacle on his lack of weapons, or on his COVID issues, would be nothing but making excuses. We simply need to admit the fact that Newton was an absolutely horrific quarterback in 2020.

Believe it or not, there are actually some Patriots fans out there who are happy about this move. My question for those fans is this: Why?

Why New England Patriots fans shouldn’t be excited about Cam Newton re-signing

Exactly what was it about Newton’s performance in 2020 that made you say, “sign me up for another year of that!?”

Was it the abysmal four-to-five touchdown-to-interception ratio? Or the under 100 yards passing in four of his 15 starts? Or was it the seemingly countless missed throws?

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With all due respect, this is a completely inexplicable move by the Patriots. In fact, one could even call it insane.

Quite literally.

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