Cam Newton has been ruled ineligible owing to COVID-19 regulations. Will he lose his starting spot with the Patriots as a result?
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS — Whether or not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is a personal decision. This is also true in the NFL, where players have the option. The league, on the other hand, set stricter penalties for players who refused to get vaccinated.
These decisions have consequences, as we saw on Monday.
Throughout the summer, the Patriots kept their immunization rate in-house. Most players refuse to say whether or not they have been vaccinated. We had no idea who had not been vaccinated until Monday morning, when it was announced that Cam Newton would be suspended for five days owing to a “misunderstanding” concerning COVID-19 tests and where they should be conducted.
Newton was taken to a team-approved medical appointment outside of New England, according to the Patriots. Despite the fact that the quarterback had daily COVID tests that were negative, there was a “misunderstanding about tests conducted outside of NFL facilities.” Newton is now “subject to the five-day entrance cadence process before returning to the facility” as a result of the NFL/NFLPA guidelines. He won’t be able to play at Gillette Stadium again until Thursday.
Only unvaccinated athletes are subject to the five-day readmission process, according to the NFL. Newton will be tested for five days in a row because he is unvaccinated, according to COVID regulations. On Day 5, once those negative test results are ready, he’ll be authorized to access the team facility.
Newton’s refusal to receive the vaccine was a personal decision that he was free to make. However, his decision to forego the shot has resulted in him being barred from participating in a crucial three-day practice period. If the quarterback had gotten the shot, he wouldn’t have had to go through daily testing or miss five days of practice.
When you consider that the Patriots should have known the rules, it’s clear that this problem might have been avoided.
The question now is whether Newton’s absence will have an impact on him or the Patriots.
Newton has been involved in a high-stakes quarterback rivalry with Mac Jones this summer. The veteran definitely has the upper hand, but Bill Belichick had yet to designate a starting for Week 1 as of Monday. Jones will now receive three days of first-team repetitions in practice owing to the “misunderstanding.” One day of combined workouts with the New York Giants will be part of it. Cam Newton
It’ll be interesting to see how Belichick handles the situation. Will Newton practice again on Thursday? did he suit up against the Giants in the preseason finale? Will Jones start the last game of the preseason?
Giants coach Joe Judge indicated on Monday that he would start his starters against the Patriots for at least the first half. This preseason game appears to be viewed by New York as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. Players can lose starting and roster slots if they don’t show up for practice, as we’ve seen every summer. The best ability, as they say, is availability. Because Newton is out, can Jones win the starting quarterback job for the Patriots?
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This is a devastating setback for Newton, who has shown signs of improvement this summer and played well against Philadelphia last week.
Last season, the veteran quarterback was thrown into a difficult situation after joining the Patriots late in the summer. When he tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020, his season was ruined. He missed two weeks of practice and a start against the Kansas City Chiefs as a result of this. Newton’s absence from the team seems to have set him back. The Pats lost three straight games after Newton returned, to Denver, San Francisco, and Buffalo. In those three games, Newton passed for 157, 98, and 174 yards. During that three-game run, he rushed for two touchdowns but passed for none and threw five interceptions.
COVID-19 is costing Newton time on the field once again this year. With Brady absent, Jones was in charge of the Patriots’ offense on Monday. In full-team drills, the youngster completed 17-of-31 throws, indicating that he wasn’t having a good day. With Newton at home, he’ll get another chance on Tuesday and again on Wednesday.
Newton’s absence was questioned by Patriots players. Cam Newton
The Patriots’ players were asked about Newton’s absence after practice.
“I think it’s just what it is for us,” Devin McCourty said. “It’s football, after all. We’re used to guys coming and going due to injury and other issues. I know it’s cliched, and we’ve been saying it for years, but it’s time for the next guy. Everyone is doing what they need to do. I believe they should handle what they have control over and proceed in that manner. “
J.J. Taylor explained, “It’s football.” “Things happen, and all you can do is go out and play.”
Damien Harris said, “Nothing changes.” “We arrived today. Business is just that: it’s being done. This week, we have a new task. It was our first day of practice, so the men who were out there had to go out and perform their duties. That’s all there is to it. “
Newton’s only option now is to wait and hope that this misunderstanding doesn’t cost him a chance to start for the Patriots.
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Cam Newton is out due to COVID-19 rules. Will it cost him the starting job with the Patriots?
