QB saved his best for likely final game with Pats
FOXBORO — He strode into Gillette Stadium for likely the final time as a Patriot employee in a brown trench coat, white turtleneck, sunglasses, and a hat with an extra-large brim. He was carrying a red bag, a fitting color since Cam Newton left a fellow AFC East rival red-faced.
If you happen to be searching for a song that perfectly captures a Week 17 performance where MVP Cam was on display, stop once you hear “Save the Best for Last” by Vanessa Williams. The quarterback emptied the tank and then some, throwing for three touchdowns and catching one as the Pats concluded a season to forget with a 28-14 victory over the Jets.
The 2020 version of Newton was nowhere to be found on this particular day. The Newton that showed up to work on Sunday succeeded in turning in a performance that conjured up pleasant memories from his days as a dual-threat QB for the Carolina Panthers.
Maybe Newton isn’t washed up, yet it stands to reason that an encore season in a Patriots uniform is not in the cards for a player who for one day lived up to his Superman moniker.
“I have my desires. I know where my heart is set, but I can’t really speak on that right
“I have my desires. I know where my heart is set, but I can’t really speak on that right now.”
— Patriots quarterback Cam Newton
now,” said Newton when asked about his future as far as the Patriots are concerned. “My whole time in New England has been a blessing. I learned so much about myself, great teammates, and unbelievable coaching. We’ll see how it goes and we’ll go from there.”
If national pundits are to be trusted, the Patriots and Newton had already agreed to a parting of the ways long before he torched the Jets.
“Both sides enjoyed their relationship, but both sides expect that it will take them to a different place and a different direction in 2021 with Cam Newton likely moving on and the Patriots in search of a new quarterback for next season. We’ll see what direction they decide to go,” said Adam Schefter on ESPN’s NFL Countdown.
When the report from the World Wide Leader in Sports was brought to Bill Belichick’s attention during his postgame media session, the coach bristled and coined it, “another one of your anonymous reports.” Belichick has devoted many press conferences to praising Newton for how hard he’s worked after coming into a new system and dealing with COVID-19. His response to the ESPN rumor mill was not surprising.
Alas, it would appear that Belichick’s days of extolling the virtues of Newton are rapidly drawing to a close. Newton may have been a loyal foot soldier, yet such a trait will only get you so far in a region that in 2020 saw how the other half lived when it comes to rooting for an NFL team that bumbles and stumbles along.
The Patriots turned to Newton with the hope he would succeed in keeping the gravy train moving forward after Tom Brady made like a snowbird and flew the coup to Florida. After one playoff-less season where the “Put in Jarrett Stidham” crowd had a field day every time Newton bounced a throw into the turf, the time has come for Belichick to embark on another QB search.
Cam, you’re a nice guy. At this stage of your career, you’re just not starting quarterback material.
“Having a game like today is good, but you wish you would have had more games like this,” said Newton. “We came up short a lot.”
Fair or not, Newton will be remembered as the primary signal-caller for a Patriots’ team that missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and went two decades without posting a sub-.500 record.
You could point out that Newton was at a disadvantage right from the get-go after signing late while not having the benefit of a traditional training camp. That being said, Newton never got better as the season progressed. He was hooked three times during the middle of a game, a clear-cut sign that he not a franchise savior at this stage of his career.
Did Newton try his best? Absolutely. Did he grasp the team-first culture component of the Patriot Way? It sure sounds that way.
“He’s come in and he’s just been himself. We’ve accepted him, he’s accepted us,” said safety Devin McCourty. “He doesn’t just care about how he plays as an individual. Leading a group and the group playing well, he takes a lot of that on his shoulders. I’ve been very fortunate and happy the way this year worked out, to get to know him and get to see his work ethic and person and all the things that he brings to the team. So it’s been awesome just to be around him.”
For a different change of pace, “over-the-hill quarterback” and “sharp dresser” did not intersect when sizing up Newton’s day against New York. He completed throws over the middle, utilized the running backs in the passing game, and bulldozed his way to 79 rushing yards.
“Today, everything meshed in ways that we wanted it to mesh,” said Newton.
Now, a dose of reality. Newton’s 242 yards through the air marked only the fifth time in 15 games that he eclipsed the 200yard passing mark. Week-in and week-out, you need to have consistent production from the most important position in the sport.
For one day, let’s give Newton his due. He was sharp and precise and looked good as a route runner when he hauled in a touchdown toss from Jakobi Meyers.
Now, let’s bid him adieu.