It’s kind of a depressing day for Auburn football fans. Just this morning, the New England Patriots announced that they have released former Tiger quarterback Cam Newton and named former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones as the official starter.
Yep, you read that correctly. Cam Newton was released and Mac Jones is now the Pats’ QB1. According to the Boston Globe, Newton was the top quarterback during training camp and the preseason games, but he missed three days of practice last week due to COVID-19 protocols.
Jones will join Tua Tagovailoa as the second former Alabama quarterback to be starting in the NFL. Right behind Jones, former Auburn QB1 Jarrett Stidham is still waiting in the wings.
Auburn football fans and college football fans all over the world exploded with reactions on Twitter. From justifiable outrage to the plethora of Mac Jones memes, the tweets go on for days:
Mac Jones walking into practice after the Patriots released Cam Newton pic.twitter.com/oDmeXwo4OX
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) August 31, 2021
Cam Newton heading to Bishop Sycamore pic.twitter.com/JYNhP61GC5
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 31, 2021
The little kid talking to Cam Newton in this Play 60 commercial can now be officially identified as Mac Jones: pic.twitter.com/UskOThV3LA
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) August 31, 2021
In general, it seems most Auburn fans are just relieved to not have to care at all about the New England Patriots anymore:
Good, now I can go back to not caring about the Patriots.
— Plainsman Parking Lot (@AUPPL) August 31, 2021
Well I always hated the Pats
— Sean Parker (@ThePorkOfYork) August 31, 2021
I never quit hating the Patriots. Today's news is a pleasure to me.
— Creed Jordan 🥃 (@Its_Me_AU_Creed) August 31, 2021
All the homies hate the Patriots.
— Kyle (@AllAubarn) August 31, 2021
ESPN reports that Jones relieved Newton in their Sunday game and finished the preseason with pretty good stats:
"Jones finished the preseason 36-of-52 for 389 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. He was sacked four times in Sunday’s finale after having been sacked just once in the earlier two preseason games."
It seems that the New England Patriots are ready to step into the future and build their franchise around a young quarterback. Hopefully, Cam Newton will find a new NFL team to fit into this season.