FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — At Gillette Stadium, news that veteran Quarterback Cam Newton was cut, paving the way for rookie Quarterback Mac Jones to take the ball for the new season, has many Patriot fans dreaming big.
“We’re turning a page, going pass Cam Newton, we’re past Tom Brady. Now we’re with Mac Jones,” Cindy Milley of Riverside, Rhode Island, told me.
Not since legendary Quarterback Tom Brady left New England for Tampa, have Patriot fans been this excited about a new season.
I asked Julie Bloom of Raynham how ready she is for the Mac Jones era.
“Oh my god, I can’t wait!” she answered. “My husband just scored tickets. Literally, he’s been waiting 15 years. He just got his season tickets!”
Stephen Ferreira, of Dracut, has high hopes for Mac Jones.
“Hopefully, we can have another good 15 year run with this guy. Just like we had for Tom (Brady),” he said.
At the Patriot Place Pro Shop the big announcement seemed to take everyone by surprise.
Mac Jones jerseys are only available in Women’s and Youth sizes, there are no full sizes for men. And because of supply issues, the Pro Shop is not taking any custom orders. It’s hoped brand new Mac Jones jerseys will be stocked before the first game of the new season on September 13.
As much excitement as there is for Mac Jones, some fans are disappointed that Cam Newton is no longer on the team.
“He had good confidence, he was better than last year, I thought. I thought he was going to be the starter,” Bonnie Donahue of Moultonboro, New Hampshire told me. “I think Mac will do fine. But he is still inexperienced. And it would be nice if we could have someone with more experience at the beginning of the season and not put him (Mac) under fire so quickly.”