The Lead
Without Tom Brady in a Patriots uniform, the Broncos' Week 5 matchup with New England just won't have the same feel.
However it will still have star power, as Denver's northeast nemesis swapped one Superman for another. Enter, Cam Newton.
The 2015 NFL MVP reportedly signed a one-year contract with the Patriots on Sunday night, and just like that, the Broncos' upcoming game in New England just got a little spicier.
The central question is now whether Newton can return to full health after shoulder and foot injuries derailed his final seasons in Charlotte. For the purpose of looking ahead to a possible matchup with him and New England, let's assume he can; what might that look like?
"If Newton does win the job over second-year QB Jarrett Stidham], the Patriots probably will build something closer to the offense he was working under during his time with [former Panthers offensive coordinator Norv] Turner in Carolina,” [ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote Sunday. "With the Panthers trying to get the ball out of Newton's hands quicker, the concerns about accuracy and efficiency that might have otherwise made him and the Patriots seem like a bad fit went away. Newton had just four interceptions and four fumbles over the first half of the 2018 campaign."
If Newton can regain his All-Pro form, he should represent a significant upgrade for the Patriots at quarterback. Will the move be enough for him to get over ghosts from Super Bowl 50 and earn his first career win over Denver?
It's impossible to say at this point, but history — and Von Miller — will be on the Broncos' side.
Below the Fold
If you follow this website closely, you may already know that I’m anticipating a big season from Alexander Johnson. The Denver Post's Ryan O'Halloran examined Johnson’s progress in 2019, and the up-and-coming linebacker told him the steps he wants to take in 2020.
Life on the waiting list for Denver Broncos season tickets can be a disappointing one. As The Gazette’s Paul Klee reports, "if you put your name on the waiting list tomorrow, the Broncos estimate your email will arrive in roughly 13 years[.]" But Klee knows one of the happy Coloradans who just made the leap — and the joy was well worth the wait.
