We spent the better part of August trying to guess.

What was Bill Belichick thinking, we asked. Cam or Mac? Mac or Cam? Every throw analyzed to death.

In the end, barring any unforeseen injury or circumstance, we found out the answer. As one friend/Patriots fan texted yours truly Tuesday, Cam Newton became Scram Newton. And now the Patriots quarterback job belongs to Mac Jones.

It’s a shame for Newton, an energetic sort who had Patriots fan breathing a sigh of relief when he was signed last July but then thrown into a COVID fire.

That sigh of relief turned into groans when he was re-signed in March, just before the Patriots and Belichick went on their free agent spending spree.

Then those groans just turned to expressions of shock when the move to completely sever ties with Newton was made yesterday morning.

Stunning, but if we’ve learned anything over the years, never underestimate the diabolical mind of one Bill Belichick. We never really know what he’s thinking. In the words of one coach, you think you know, but you don’t know. Or something like that. Heck, he let the greatest QB of all time head south for more than the winter, right?

Was Newton, who simply can’t throw the ball any longer with any strength or accuracy, given the option to stay as a backup? That would be the logical assumption, that he was told by Belichick that the team was going forward with Jones, and he could stay as a backup, but declined.

Or….as others have said, among them Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard (citing unnamed sources), that Newton was simply told to turn in his playbook and don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Or something like it. In other words, no choice to stay was given.

And of course that leaves the question of just who the heck is going to back up Jones? The team also released Brian Hoyer, but it’s thought the veteran will clear waivers and be re-signed. Jarrett Stidham, who has been a complete afterthought and simply always unable to take advantage of any opportunity presented him, was placed along with corner Stephon Gilmore (among others) on the PUP list. That means no action for the first six games, at least.

But of course in Bill we trust, right? But we never thought he’d hand over the keys completely to Jones after all that free agent spending. Just like you don’t trust a 16-year-old with your brand new Jaguar.

But the Patriot offense is built for low risk, high reward. Just trips down the street to the corner store.

Ground and pound, and if you pass, keep it short and pound some more. That’s why we felt Newton would start the year, but Jones they feel has such a good grasp, you have to think Belichick turned to Josh McDaniels and said, “Why wait?”

The time evidently is now. We likely get to hype an all-Alabama opener with Jones going up against a team QB’d by the guy he waited for to graduate, Tua Tagovailoa. That is, of course, the Dolphins lose their minds and deal for Deshaun Watson. Not because Tagovailoa is so good but because Watson could be in big trouble, either with the law or Uncle Roger (Goodell).

The last time a rookie started the season for the Patriots was in 1993, and his name was Drew Bledsoe. Bill Parcells made that decision, especially since Bledsoe was the first overall pick in the ’93 Draft. That was nearly 30 years ago, but back then first round QBs were usually sitting for a year or two, soaking up the playbook, etc.

But not today. If you’re a quarterback and taken in the first round, you’re starting, if not right away, after a game or two. Or three. Or maybe four tops.

In this case, it’s right away. The Mac Attack begins on Sept. 12.

Tom King may be reached @Telegraph_TomK, or tking@nashuatelegraph.com

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