Cam Newton getting cut means Alabama QBs Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa will battle in Week 1

31.08.2021 17:43

Roll Tide!

The surprising news out of New England on Tuesday morning with the Patriots cutting quarterback Cam Newton sent shockwaves throughout the NFL world.

It means rookie Mac Jones will be the starter in Week 1 for the Pats. And a lot of folks, after the initial shock of the roster move, took note of a very interesting thing: The Pats and the Miami Dolphins will face each other on the opening Sunday of the season.

And that means Jones will face off against Tua Tagovailoa in a battle of former Alabama quarterbacks and teammates. That’s kind of cool, isn’t it?

Tagovailoa was the Crimson Tide starter after his unreal performance in the 2018 national title game, and Jones took over for him after Tagovailoa suffered a hip injury in 2019.

Week 1.
Tua vs Mac. pic.twitter.com/WEpYfAZXxU

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) August 31, 2021

Week 1: Tua vs. Mac pic.twitter.com/6A1Z76r8fv

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) August 31, 2021

The 2018 Alabama football roster had:
* 3 future NFL starting QBs (Tua, Hurts, Mac)
* 2 future 1st round picks at RB (Jacobs, Najee) + Damien Harris
* 4 future 1st round WRs (Jeudy, Ruggs, Waddle, Smith)
* 4 other future 1st round picks (Wills, Leatherwood, Surtain, Q Williams)

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 31, 2021

By the way, per Roll Tide Wire, the two of them haven’t spoken much:

Alabama Rivals reporter Tony Tsoukalas was there and quoted Tagovailoa on the various questions he was asked.

While he spoke about his return to Tuscaloosa and the event, he was asked if he has spoken with fellow former Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones, who was drafted No. 15 overall in the 2021 NFL draft to Tagovailoa’s in-division rival, the New England Patriots.

“I never had the opportunity to talk to Mac. I’ve been busy with our team. I know he’s been really busy competing with the guys at New England.

“If he ever wants to talk, I’m here. I think it’s hard with what he has going on. Him having to study the playbook with it being his first year as well. I know the kind of perfectionist he is, so I know he’s going to be studying a lot.”