Who will be under center for the New England Patriots? As of Wednesday of Week 16, that answer is still unknown.
Cam Newton is the assumed starter, but the Patriots aren’t playoff bound and this is the perfect time to give Jarrett Stidham a chance to prove what he can do. The Patriots have the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets for the final two games and the results from those games won’t matter much.
Bill Belichick awkwardly shut down the question regarding the quarterback situation while talking with WEEI’s Lou Merloni on Tuesday. Belichick said he’s done with the question after hearing it week after week.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss asked that same question on Wednesday and he got the same result. Here’s the exchange, transcribed by Masslive’s Chris Mason.
Reiss: “With this being the first practice of the week, and you guys going through your meetings the last couple days, are you sticking with Cam at quarterback?”
Belichick: “Mike, we’re not answering that question every day. We’ve been through this for a month.”
Reiss: “Totally respect that, just with the circumstances changing over the last couple days with the playoffs, that’s why I asked.”
Belichick: “How about if I let you know if we’re going to make a change?”
Reiss: “That sounds good to me. Is it partly due to competitive reasons, that you don’t want to let the Bills know?”
Belichick: “Any questions on Buffalo, Mike?”
So, that’s helpful — we have absolutely no idea who’ll be at quarterback, but it’s leaning toward Newton.
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