NFL commentators often drop pearls of knowledge on TV broadcasts gleaned from their unique community availability with head coaches.
That occurred Sunday when the New England Patriots took on the Miami Dolphins. CBS’s Ian Eagle and Charles Davis requested Belichick final week earlier than the sport about “enjoying rookies and the quarterback place specifically.”
Eagle relayed the next from the Patriots head coach:
“‘Look, we’re in a brand new world within the NFL,’” Belichick stated, by way of Eagle. “‘You have got a younger QB, if he’s drafted excessive, you don’t have without end to determine whether or not or not he’s your man.’”
“And the thought which you can return to the highschool or the faculty experiences to attempt to assess that, he doesn’t imagine that interprets except you come from a pro-style offense,” Eagle added.
“He stated that helps a bit of bit,” Davis stated. “The NFL is simply so completely different.”
Most clearly, this dictates how the Patriots may deploy a younger quarterback in the event that they take one early within the 2021 NFL Draft. Gamers like Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance, BYU’s Zach Wilson, Florida’s Kyle Trask or Alabama’s Mac Jones might be out there for New England to seize within the first or second spherical. The Patriots may signal a veteran quarterback to start out the season earlier than turning to a rookie rapidly.
That quote additionally may apply to Patriots 2019 fourth-round choose Jarrett Stidham, who has but to start out an NFL recreation 30 video games into his profession. The Patriots appeared keen to go into the 2020 NFL season with Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer at quarterback earlier than signing Cam Newton in July. Stidham started the season third on the Patriots’ QB depth chart earlier than passing Hoyer in Week 6. Stidham is 18-of-33 for 212 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions (one in every of which got here on a drop) this season in mop-up obligation.
All of that is to say, if the Patriots don’t have “without end to determine whether or not or not (Stidham is their) man,” and if the Patriots don’t begin him over the ultimate two weeks of the 2020 season, maybe the choice whether or not or not he’s the “man” has already been made.
Belichick hasn’t dedicated to start out Cam Newton nor Stidham for Monday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments. Stidham is the one Patriots quarterback underneath contract for the 2021 season. Newton and Hoyer are free brokers, and the Patriots may signal practice-squadder Jake Dolegala to a future deal after the season.
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