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NFL Rumors: Cam Newton ‘Wasn’t Guaranteed’ Patriots Starting QB Job

Are you ready for a real quarterback competition, Patriots fans?

New England on Sunday reportedly inked 31-year-old Cam Newton to a one-year, incentive-laden contract. The former Carolina Panthers signal-caller will join veteran Brian Hoyer, sophomore Jarrett Stidham and undrafted rookies J’Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke on the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart.

Though Newton, who was released in March, surely would like to be a starter, he “wasn’t guaranteed” the job, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported Monday morning, citing sources.

Howe added this context in his column:

“Interestingly, earlier this offseason, the Patriots hadn’t expressed any substantial interest in signing Newton.