Bill Belichick addresses timetable for New England Patriots quarterback competition

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has not yet named a starting quarterback for Week 1, and Belichick on Thursday indicated that he might not be prepared to give an answer before the Patriots’ final preseason game against the New York Giants on Aug. 29.

Following Tom Brady’s departure to Tampa Bay, the Patriots signed veteran Cam Newton to serve as the starting quarterback. Newton last season threw for 2,657 yards with a 65.8 completion percentage, eight touchdowns and ten interceptions.

One year later, the Patriots drafted Mac Jones, Alabama’s national championship-winning quarterback, with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

When asked how long it might take to make a decision on the starter, Belichick wouldn’t tip his hand.

“I don’t have a timetable on that,” Belichick said, when asked how long the transition from competition to starter might take. “I can’t tell you.”

In a follow-up question, Belichick was then asked if he felt the decision was coming soon — perhaps at the end of training camp — or if it was coming prior to the Patriots Week 1 matchup with the Miami Dolphins.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “I’m not sure exactly how that will go.”

Newton, the Carolina Panthers’ first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, had a Heisman Trophy-winning senior season with the Auburn Tigers and led the Panthers from one of the NFL’s worst to a 2015 Super Bowl team.

Jones, by comparison, took his first and only season as Alabama’s starter in stride, setting an NCAA single-season record with a 77.4 completion percentage, coupled with 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2020 but ultimately lost to his teammate, wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Belichick was asked separately about Mac Jones’ ability to control the huddle, something that running back James White had commended in yesterday’s media availability. Belichick held his position, however, being careful not to give anything away.

“I think that’s something that James [White] could expand on a little bit,” Belichick said. “I’m not exactly sure what part of that he was referring to, so I don’t want to put any words in his mouth or speak for him. I certainly wouldn’t do that.”

Belichick then said that all signalcallers, “whether the quarterbacks, or defensive signal callers, or personal protectors on the punt team,” should have a certain level of command over the huddle.

“There’s a responsibility that comes with [play calling] in terms of getting things organized, being aware of the situation, making sure that on certain plays, there might be one or two guys in particular that have a key role in that play just by the way it’s called,” Belichick said. “All those things come with that position [of play caller]: awareness, communication and clarification sometimes.”