Newton teases mystery offense
‘I’m not taking this opportunity for granted’
FOXBORO — Cam Newton is charming and charismatic in any setting. He makes a point of providing thoughtful, not to mention thought-provoking, answers to questions.
But Friday, speaking with the media via video conference, there was something even more appealing about him.
There was a little twinkle sparkling in his eyes, a radiant gleam that lit up his face when talking about where he’s headed with the Patriots.
One reason for that is Newton has already cleared the first hurdle in his path.
Let’s just say his Revenge Tour and resurrection as a star NFL quarterback wouldn’t have gotten off the ground if he didn’t beat out Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer in the so-called quarterback competition, even if it was a forgone conclusion.
While Stidham’s injury helped the cause, Newton progressed to the point where he would have left Stid the Kid in the dust anyway.
And while he continues to work out some mental hurdles with the playbook, it’s still fair to say Newton aced his opening test with the Patriots.
He earned the right to take over Tom Brady’s old job, and was named a team captain to boot.
“I’ve had a plan since I’ve been here just to become the best player I can possibly be. Be coached and be coachable,” Newton told the media. “I just try to be of service in any way shape or form I possibly can be. Anything they ask of me to do, it’s my job to do it.”
In short order, Newton has basically won over the players, and the coaching staff, including Bill Belichick, which is no small task.
Given what he brings to the table both as a personality and a player, it shouldn’t come as a surprise he was able to check off those boxes.
But a bigger battle remains for the former NFL MVP: Can he stay healthy, and play well enough to lead the team to its usual standard of excellence, especially with a cast of young, inexperienced receivers outside of Julian Edelman?
When asked, Newton didn’t say what excited him the most about the offense. He just smartly whet everyone’s appetite.
The showman left everyone with a cliffhanger.
“I think the most exciting thing is that nobody knows (about the offense). And you’re still not gonna know. So you just got to tune in and see,” he said, chuckling at his answer, with that twinkle ever more present in his eyes. “That’s what excites me the most because everybody’s kinda having the same questions like, ‘What are they going to do? Are they going to do this? Are they going to do that? … I’m not going to tell you. I mean, come on. It’s almost game week, guy. You can’t just let all of the tricks out of the hat.”
Let’s do a little reading between the lines. While the foundation of the Patriots offense will remain intact, there will be some new wrinkles that take advantage of Newton’s mobility. It would be silly if there weren’t any “tricks” on tap.
And while Newton admittedly hasn’t mastered the playbook, he knows enough to think whatever is up their collective sleeves might work.
Or at the very least, he teased it would succeed.
While Belichick wouldn’t get into who was a starter, or not, during his press briefing Friday, it’s been pretty obvious he’s enamored with his new quarterback based on glowing remarks he’s made recently about Newton.
The feeling seems mutual. Newton always thought Belichick was great, but working with him up close, he can see why the Patriots have been so successful, and why he might follow suit.
“If anything, you … appreciate his greatness even more. He’s an unbelievable teacher of the game. And I think that’s not highlighted enough, especially from a person of his caliber and status,” said Newton. “Having the success that he’s had over the X amount of years that he’s been here or even been anywhere coaching, you understand why he’s so successful, and not only him but it’s his coaches that he does a great job with trusting in his coaches to get the job done.
“And even in his players too,” he added. “And it’s a common theme that you get the job done or if not, they’re going to find somebody to get the job done.”
Newton seemed over the moon — “phenomenal” was his word — to have been named both starter and captain. No doubt, he’s going to put his own brand of “sizzle” into his new leadership role with the team.
“I could sense it was almost expected (being captain), but ever since I spoke to any person with the team, I wanted to make sure they understood my drive, and understand that I’m not taking this opportunity for granted, whether it was showing up as early as I did show up, or leave as late as I leave, I know people know my heart is in the right place,” he said. “And when it comes to this team, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do except put their best interests at heart. To be named captain, it was rewarding to hear, but now the real work kind of starts knowing I have to prove it each and every day.”
And while he loves playing in front of huge crowds, Newton should do just fine playing in mostly empty stadium this season due to COVID-19. Newton, ever the showman, derives his drive from within.
“I have so much to prove with an opportunity of a lifetime. And with that being said, there’s many times in junior college I look back and I say we play games in front of ourselves. And it was meaningful,” he said. “It was meaningful games but at the end of the day everybody didn’t necessarily show up. So, I don’t play this game just for the validation of people … I mean, I love the fans and I love the energy that our fans do bring and I can’t wait because that’s something that I’ve never seen, and it’s something that I’ve witnessed on the other side … I can’t wait till the doors open.”
Listening to him, it’s hard not to feel the same way.