Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Audio By Carbonatix
After Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots quarterback situation became cloudy for the first time in two decades.
Rumors are swirling that Bill Belichick and the Pats might make some moves on draft day to grab Tua Tagovailoa.
While the idea seems intriguing, if it doesn’t work out, there are several top-level quarterbacks on the open market.
Specifically, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton.
Allegedly, the Patriots have no interest in either.
If the Patriots are secretly considering one of the two, former team executive Scott Pioli feels that Newton would be the odd man out.
Scott Pioli worked for New England from 2000-08 and doesn’t think Newton’s attitude about the sport is a good fit for Bill Belichick.
Pioli told CBS Sports Radio:
“The Patriots thing is interesting because I’ve heard a lot of people talk about that,” Pioli said on CBS Sports Radio. “And in my mind, having spent as much time with Bill as I did, I don’t see those two coexisting together…The personalities and the beliefs of how the game should be played and is played . . . it seems like oil and water. Now as soon as I say that, what’s gonna happen next week is they’ll probably sign him.
Pioli continues:
“But I just see them as being very different personalities and having very different approaches to the game. Bill understands — he believes in football more than entertainment. Cam believes that football and entertainment are almost equal partners. In which this day it is, but Bill has the soul of a football man and I couldn’t see that one working out too well. And if it did it would have to be for probably one season.”
Pioli brings up good points. If Belichick and the typically even-tempered Brady occasionally clashed, there’s no doubt that the head coach and Newton would buttheads repeatedly.
Belichick has likely had enough of expensive headcases in his lockerroom.
The Patriots’ projected starter at quarterback is Brady’s 2019 backup, Jarrett Stidham.
[via The Spun]