Newton hopes to start, not retire
New England eliminated from playoffs for first time since 2008
Cam Newton might be headed toward free agency, but the New England Patriots' quarterback is not thinking about retirement.
"No, I'm not there," he said Monday on the Greg Hill Show. "I still have a lot of football left. I still want to play football. I have the urge to be better. After putting out this film? Hey, c'mon now. I definitely can't go out like this."
Newton and the Patriots lost Sunday and were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2008. The 22-12 loss to the Miami Dolphins underscored a number of needs, head coach Bill Belichick allowed, and sends the Patriots to a full off-season of rebuilding for the first time in nearly two decades.
"I have to coach better, we have to play better, we have to tackle better, a combination of all of those things," Belichick said Sunday after the Dolphins amassed 250 rushing yards.
Newton, 31, signed a oneyear deal with the Patriots after being released by the Carolina Panthers. He said the tale of the 2020 season for the Patriots has been coming up short.
Now it's to be determined whether the Patriots, or another team, will give Newton a shot to prove this season was an anomaly. Newton remained unsigned for several weeks when he was cut by the Panthers in April.
The Patriots have gone 21 possessions without a touchdown. Up next is a Monday night date in Week 16 with the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.
Belichick could decide to try 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham with the playoffs no longer a possibility.
"Listen, I'm just going to keep doing what I'm asked to do, and for me, I've just got to keep getting better," said Newton, the MVP of the 2015 season. "Keep doing what's asked of me and go over and beyond and try to learn the system each and every week. I know we're in the latter part of the season, but still try to learn as much as possible."
The loss to Miami dropped the Patriots' record to 6-8, meaning that the franchise will finish at .500 or worse for the first time since the 2000 season, coach Bill Belichick's first with the team.
Tom Brady, who led the Patriots' dynasty before he left during the off-season to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was diplomatic when asked about the end of New England's long playoff run.
"As far as the Patriots, they have their own thing going," Brady said. "I've really been focused on how my play needs to be at quarterback (and) the execution I need. They're not really an opponent of mine.
"Obviously, I have a lot of friends there, a lot of great relationships, but they've been focused on what they need to do and I've been trying to focus on what my job is."
New England's loss came one day after the Bills clinched the AFC East for the first time since 1995.