The Patriots made a stunning decision on Tuesday afternoon when they released quarterback Cam Newton.

Newton was embroiled in a starting quarterback battle with Mac Jones. The veteran appeared to have the edge in it for a good chunk of the offseason, but as the preseason came to a close, Jones made up ground fast. The rookie ended up winning the starting job in a move that was a mild surprise.

But Newton being released as a part of that decision? That was shocking, especially after Bill Belichick complimented Newton on Tuesday morning.

“Certainly he started at a much higher point than last year,” Belichick said of Newton to reporters. “Definitely moving in the right direction.”

So, why did Belichick and the Patriots release Newton outright? Here’s everything you need to know about New England’s decision to cut Newton.

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Why did the Patriots release Cam Newton?

There are a few reasons that Cam Newton was released, as Pro Football Network’s Adam Beasley reports. They were largely related to his performance and vaccination status.

There wasn’t just one reason that Cam Newton is gone. It was a combination of at least three, I’m told: Mac Jones’ emergence, Newton’s vaccination stance (which caused a bit of a stir behind the scenes) and Cam’s uninspiring performance this summer.

Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed added one more reason: Newton’s “command of the locker room” could have created an odd dynamic with him serving as the backup to Jones.

A couple of factors in play with releasing Cam Newton rather than keeping him on as the Patriots’ backup: His command of the locker room, and his vaccination status. Neither make him an ideal choice as a backup behind a rookie QB.

Certainly, those all played a part in Newton’s release. That said, the main reason for Belichick’s decision likely began on the field in his head-to-head battle with Jones.

IYER: 4 reasons why Patriots cutting Cam Newton shouldn’t surprise anyone

Mac Jones and Cam Newton’s preseason performances

Jones and Newton were pretty even through two preseason games performance-wise, but Jones gained the upper hand in the team’s final preseason game against the Giants.

While Newton put together a lackluster 2 of 5 passing performance for 10 yards and an interception, Jones went 10 of 14 for 156 yards and a touchdown. He made several quality throws that showed off his arm strength during the contest.

. @MacJones_10 can sling it.📺: #NEvsNYG on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)📱: https://t.co/4omupVck3h pic.twitter.com/Uj13giOknh

Between THREE defenders. @MacJones_10 rips a TD to Isaiah Zuber! @Patriots 📺: #NEvsNYG on @NFLNetwork (or check local listings)📱: https://t.co/4omupVck3h pic.twitter.com/etahITGbfz

Jones’ accuracy was great during the game, too, as it has been all preseason. In fact, only 6.3 percent of his passes thrown during the Patriots’ three games were deemed uncatchable/inaccurate by Pro Football Focus. That was the best mark in the league.

Lowest % of uncatchable/inaccurate throws this preseason (min. 45 attempts), per @PFF :Mac Jones (6.3%)

That may have been the biggest difference for Jones. After all, his and Newton’s numbers were relatively similar considering that Jones played more than twice as many drives as Newton. But Jones was more accurate and managed to avoid turning the ball over.

Player Drives Comp% Yards TDs INTs Cam Newton 7 66.7 162 1 1 Mac Jones 15 69.2 389 1 0

That — plus his steady play in all three preseason games compared to Newton’s up-and-down performance — is why Jones won the starting job. And that helped push Newton toward the roster bubble.

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Is Cam Newton vaccinated?

Cam Newton is not vaccinated, and a COVID-related incident may have played a role in pushing him off the Patriots’ roster.

Newton missed five days of practice last week with what he and the team called a “misunderstanding” of the NFL’s COVID protocols. He had gone to an approved, off-site medical appointment and while he was tested for COVID on the day of his appointment, he didn’t get tested at the Patriots’ facility. That was a violation of the league’s COVID protocols.

At the time, NFL Network’s Mike Giardi noted that caused “a level of frustration” for the team. That gave Jones a chance to stake his claim to the starting job.

Per sources, there is a level of frustration internally with the Cam Newton situation. One important member of the organization believes this has “opened” a window of opportunity for rookie Mac Jones. The team practices today and then with the NYG tomorrow b4 Newton can return.

Jones took advantage of that opportunity, and that led the Patriots to move on from Newton on Tuesday morning.

MORE: Cam Newton’s COVID absence, explained

Did the Patriots try to trade Cam Newton?

The Patriots did not try to trade Cam Newton, as Pro Football Talk reports.

Per source, the Patriots did not try to trade Cam Newton before deciding to cut him.

This is another surprise. Newton may not have been perfect during the preseason, but he flashed some starting ability against the Eagles. He was somewhat cheap, too, as his contract had a base value of just $3.5 million.

That said, Newton’s deal could be worth up to $14 million via incentives, so perhaps teams seeking a backup would have been reluctant to assume the risk of Newton earning those incentives. Or perhaps the Patriots wanted to rip off the Band-Aid and move forward with Jones as the starter.

Either way, New England didn’t try to trade Newton. The team just let him go.