Improvement, not praise, on Newton’s mind
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The past few days have gone exactly as Cam Newton expected them to inside the Patriots’ team facility after his first loss as New England’s starting quarterback.
“It wasn’t a lot of smiling going on. Still not a lot of smiling going on,” Newton said Thursday.
Though he insisted there was no subliminal message in him wearing a “happily miserable” T- shirt during his video conference with reporters, it’s clear Newton is quickly embracing a culture in which only winning is worthy of praise for a franchise with six Lombardi Trophies.
“We’re in Week 2. This is the NFL. We’re 1-1. I wouldn’t be overly jolly about our record or where we stand right now.
That’s just honest,” he said.
Still, while there were a lot of questions surrounding the Patriots’ prospects this season following the departure of Tom Brady, Newton’s play over the first two games have quickly raised those expectations,
In New England’s seasonopening win over Miami, Newton primarily relied on his rushing ability to carry the offense. He did it with his arm in last week’s loss at Seattle, throwing for 397 yards and coming within a yard of a victory and a 2-0 start. For the season, he’s completing 71% of his passes.
But it is wins, not praise that Newton insists is on his mind as the Patriots prepare to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
“That’s the most important statistic in sports,” he said. “From youth league, rec ball to high school to college to anything that requires you keeping score, the most important statistic is, ‘Did you win or did you lose?’”
What’s he’s not concerned about right now is the future and whether the Patriots can be his long-term home after this season.
“My focus is short term, and that has a lot to do with the Las Vegas Raiders, and I understand where we’re trying to go and understand the questions you’re asking, but I’m going to say it again, that’s not my focus,” Newton said.