New England Patriots: Cam Newton vs Mac Jones a most intriguing battle

Get ready New England Patriots fans, for the first time in two decades the team will have a quarterback battle of intrigue, fascination and perhaps even some controversy.

We are talking Cam Newton vs. Mac Jones.

Unless Jimmy Garoppolo still somehow ends up back in Foxboro or third-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham forces his way into the conversation, this is going to be one positional battle with all the juice, which is why NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks has the Cam vs. Mac quarterback battle as the top positional battle to look forward to once camp starts.

The New England Patriots quarterback battle is about winning over Bill Belichick

As one quarterback is coming off one of the worst starting QB performances in the NFL in 2020 and the other a National Championship, the latter will have to prove to Bill Belichick that he is a better option than the former 2015 NFL MVP who threw just 8 touchdowns in a sub-.500 record in 2020.

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Here is part of the intrigue summed up by Brooks:

"“Jones, selected 15th overall in the draft, is a “connect the dots” passer with a polished skill set that ideally suits the Patriots’ system. Despite his inexperience (only 17 career starts), the Alabama standout seems well-positioned to win the job if he can quickly acclimate to the speed and complexity of the pro game. The rookie will get his chance — but Bill Belichick will make him earn it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Newton ends up winning out after showing he can play better in Year 2 in this system.”"

The Belichick factor is the most fascinating part of this battle as he seems to be sticking with Cam Newton unless and until someone else outplays him, which shouldn’t be hard if the 2020 version of Cam is what Mac Jones is battling.

While many fans don’t want to go through another season of balls thrown in the dirt, Belichick feels he owes it to Newton to give him another chance with a full offseason to get even more acquainted with the offense and play fully healthy.

New England Patriots offense set up to help both Cam Newton and Mac Jones

What Cam and perhaps even Jones will have more playmakers also. With the additions of Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor, both quarterbacks will have some talented targets to get the ball to, so the disadvantage Newton had a season ago has been eliminated by the Patriots head coach who spent like crazy during free agency and even brought back left tackle Trent Brown to protect the blindside.

Theoretically, the offense is set up for either quarterback to succeed, but can the run-heavy offensive playbook that features Cam Newton hold off the talent of Jones, who could resemble more the Tom Brady led offense fans are used to?

It really depends on Mac Jones.

If the rookie proves he is ready to step in right away, the pressure will be on Belichick to roll with the rookie over the veteran who still has analysts and teammates looking at him through the lens of who he was vs what he actually is now.

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In all, no matter who is named starter come the start of the NFL season, this quarterback battle will be good for the team. Both players seem content on supporting and pushing one another, but both are very competitive individuals out to prove something to the NFL and to themselves.

The veteran aiming for redemption vs the rookie seeking first-year appreciation is the storyline for the New England Patriots this summer and we are all here for it.

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