Cam Newton said Monday that Bill Belichick hasn't told him he'll start the regular-season opener Sept. 12 against the Miami Dolphins.

"No. You know he hasn't said that. So for you to just ask that question, you know, it is what it is," Newton said. "Every single day, I'm coming out here with the anticipation to just get better, and that's the only thing that I can do. So I can control that."

Newton was asked the question because while Belichick has repeated multiple times that Newton is the team's starting quarterback, he also said on the night the team drafted Alabama's Mac Jones in the first round: "Whatever time Mac is ready to challenge and compete, then we'll see how that goes."