Category: AFC East news

AFC East news: Patriots QB Cam Newton tests positive for COVID

AFC East New England Patriots QB Cam Newton tests positive for COVID-19.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has tested positive for COVID-19, according to multiple outlets on Saturday.

The Patriots officially moved Newton to the reserve/ COVID-19 list.

On Sunday, the Patriots have a highly anticipated matchup with the Chiefs. Instead of that game looking like Newton vs. Patrick Mahomes under center, it’ll now be either Brian Hoyer or Jarrett Stidham for New England.

The Bills and Patriots don’t faceoff until Week 8 so Newton should be off the COVID designation by then, but in the race for the AFC East title, the Pats losing their starting quarterback will be very concerning for them.

Newton will have to quarantine and post two negative coronavirus tests before he’s able to return to his team. The Pats announced on Saturday that others who were considered to be in “close contact” with Newton had additional testing done for COVID-19 but have thus far all had negative results.

Newton’s positive test also comes as the Titans are currently battling an outbreak of COVID-19 in their organization, which has now inflected 16 people in Tennessee’s clubhouse.

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AFC East news: Jets QB Sam Darnold might miss time

New York Jets QB Sam Darnold might miss playing time with a shoulder injury.

The Jets fell to 0-4 on Thursday Night Football and now might be down a starting quarterback. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Jets quarterback Sam Darnold suffered an AC join sprain in his throwing shoulder in that 37-28 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Behind Darnold, the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback is former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. While not a threat to take over for Darnold, if Flacco were to be inserted into the lineup and have more successes than the starter, Darnold’s long-term future with New York could be in serious jeopardy considering Gang Green is in prime position to draft No. 1 overall at the 2021 NFL Draft as things currently stand. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is considered that consensus No. 1 overall pick at next year’s draft.

Darnold briefly left Thursday’s loss, but did return to action. Darnold was 23-for-42 passing for 230 in the game. He did not throwing a touchdown, but did take off for a 40-plus yard rushing score. Through four games this season, Darnold is completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 792 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

The Bills and Jets next faceoff in Week 7 on Oct. 25 at MetLife Stadium. Buffalo topped New York on opening day.

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Nathan Peterman has more contract guarantees than Cam Newton

Nathan Peterman will forever live in Buffalo Bills lore for not a lot of good reasons. Despite his rocky road in Western New York, he quickly found a new team in the now Las Vegas Raiders. Cut by the Bills in November 2018, by December, the Raiders …

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Nathan Peterman will forever live in Buffalo Bills lore for not a lot of good reasons. Despite his rocky road in Western New York, he quickly found a new team in the now Las Vegas Raiders.

Cut by the Bills in November 2018, by December, the Raiders added him to their practice squad and he’s been there ever since.

Prior to being drafted by Buffalo, Peterman was very highly touted by one analyst in particular, his now head coach Jon Gruden. The former ESPN analyst would breakdown film with each draft-bound quarterback prior to their respective drafts for the few offseasons while he was with the world-wide leader.

While Gruden never said much negative about any player, many recall he really, really liked Peterman. Fast forwarding to recent times, Peterman’s had his contract restructured by the Raiders, who have Gruden as their head coach.

Now to the part that doesn’t make sense.

Previously due $2.1 million in 2020, Peterman re-worked that contract to just a one-year, $1M deal, according to ESPN’s Field Yates this week. The incentive was that the entire one million is now guaranteed for Peterman while his last deal was not at all.

Which brings us to such a ridiculous thought. Following Peterman’s new contract announcement, our friends over at Spotrac pointed out one very interesting thing… Peterman has more guarantees in his contract than Patriots starting quarterback Cam Newton.

Newton, 31, who was named the Pats’ starter this week, has $550,000 guaranteed in his deal he signed this offseason, nearly half of Peterman’s, a backup to Derek Carr with the Raiders.

Naturally there’s a curve ball here, though. Newton’s deal could certainly earn him way more. His contract has numerous incentives in it. According to Boston.com, Newton’s on a $1.05M league minimum base salary, but he can add another $700,000 in per-game roster bonuses and up to $5.75 million in additional incentives. Fully Newton can earn $7.5M with incentives.

But regardless of all that… knowing the past of both of these players? That’s… something… in terms of the guaranteed money.

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AFC East news: Patriots name Cam Newton starting quarterback

Buffalo Bills rivals in the AFC East, the New England Patriots, name Cam Newton starting QB, team captain.

The New England Patriots have a starting quarterback and it’s Cam Newton.

At a team meeting on Thursday, New England head coach Bill Belichick named Newton the team’s QB1, according to the Boston Globe. The team made an announcement that all but cemented the Newton news, as he was named a team captain as well:

The team nor Belichick has yet to confirm the QB news, but various other outlets in Boston have confirmed it.

Newton, 31, joined the Patriots the offseason via a one-year deal with numerous incentives in the contract. While Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane were working their previous positions in Carolina, Newton was the team’s starting quarterback. That time also includes Newton’s 2015 MVP season.

Newton’s time in Carolina ended after 2019 as he struggled with injury in recent years. The organization also moved on from longtime head coach Ron Rivera.

Earlier this offseason it was expected that the Patriots would replace now-Bucs quarterback Tom Brady with his most-recent backup, Jarrett Stidham. Newton signed shortly before training camp, however, reports surfaced that once Newton was released by Carolina in March, the Pats quickly contacted him and kept dialogue open.

While Newton will be under center for Week 1, we’ll see what happens by the time Buffalo readies for their eighth game of the season. The Bills start 2020 against the Jets and Dolphins, respectively, and even play the Jets for a second time in Week 7, before ever seeing the Pats.

Buffalo and New England will first faceoff in Week 8.

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