Patriots coach: Vaccination status played no role in Cam Newton’s release

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said quarterback Cam Newton’s vaccination status didn’t play a role in him being released by the team, ESPN reported.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Belichick dismissed rumors about the team releasing Newton due to his vaccination status, saying he doesn’t know the number of team personnel who were infected with the virus. 

“I would just point out that I don’t know what the number is, but the number of players, coaches and staff members that have been infected by COVID in this training camp — who have been vaccinated — is a pretty high number. So I wouldn’t lose sight of that,” Belichick said. 

Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, missed five days of training camp last week after being assigned to the team’s COVID-19/Reserve list due to a “misunderstanding, according to ESPN. 

The team also disclosed that Newton has undergone daily COVID-19 testing, and that he tested negative. 

Newton, a former first overall draft selection, hasn’t said publicly whether he’s vaccinated, calling it a personal choice. 

Newton’s release comes as the U.S. is going through another wave of COVID-19 infections, as the highly contagious delta variant hits largely unvaccinated areas of the country especially hard. 

The league’s commissioner office recently revised its COVID-19 protocol memo to its 32 clubs, advising that vaccinated players should be tested weekly for the virus. 

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie head coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday that a player’s vaccination status will factor into them being on the final 53-man roster. 

The team released a statement on Wednesday backtracking on Meyer’s remarks, saying that they want to educate their players on personal decisions that pertain to the vaccine, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Statement from the Jaguars: pic.twitter.com/S5Wn1Crgqe

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2021

Newton was cut by the Patriots after one season Tuesday, with the team’s first-round selection Mac Jones being named the new starting quarterback, ESPN noted.