It turns out that the New England Patriots’ decision to release veteran quarterback Cam Newton and install rookie Mac Jones as a starter for the 2021 NFL season did not just shock the majority of the football world. The move also came as a surprise for Newton himself.
In a recent video published on his YouTube channel, Newton spoke for the first time about being released by New England. And he started by saying that this isn’t the development he was expecting.
“Did it catch me by surprise being released? Absolutely,” revealed Newton.
Newton then went on to explain that he wouldn’t have an issue serving as Jones’ backup if asked to do so by the Pats. But they never asked him, and the former NFL MVP believes he knows why.
“But listen, the truth of the matter is this: He would have been uncomfortable,” Newton explained.
The 32-year-old star also spoke about his competition with Jones during the training camp and the preseason. Newton said that he didn’t get an equal number of reps like the rookie, which made him suspect that New England had other plans for him.
“When I look back at it, I was probably getting two reps to his 10 reps. And that’s why it was starting to make sense,” he added.
Finally, Newton said that he thinks the reason why he was released by the Patriots is that he “was going to be a distraction, without being a starter.”
Cam Newton still remains a free agent, but he insisted in the video that he isn’t retiring from football. His best chance to make an NFL team in the future looks to be accepting a backup role, but it remains to be seen whether he will be willing to do so at this point of his career.
