NFL team reports:
Newton finds fresh motivation with Patriots, plus we take closer looks at the Ravens, Vikings and Saints.
How much does Newton have to prove?
It took Cam Newton a matter of days after signing with the Patriots in late June to connect with new teammates when he worked out with receiver Mohamed Sanu and then N’Keal Harry and rookie tight end Devin Asiasi.
The newest Patriots’ quarterback also hasn’t wasted any time when it comes to diving into his new playbook. The 31year-old posted a photo on Instagram of himself sitting at a table taking notes. It appeared like he was studying the Patriots’ offensive playbook.
Newton also posted a workout video on his Instagram page. It looked like a warning to the rest of the NFL. In the video, the quarterback can be seen doing some core work.
“You gonna choose that over this?” Newton said in between sets. “I’m being modest, I’ll tell you this: I’m getting tired of being humble now. All right? All right?”
After more crunches, Newton pops up again. It’s clear that the former NFL MVP is coming to Foxborough motivated to try and win the starting quarterback job.
“I’m really a killa. I’m really a killa,” Newton said.
Although the details are still to be sorted out, it appears that there won’t be any preseason games this summer. That might make it harder for a new player like Newton this offseason, but he is working hard to win the starting job, follow Tom Brady (who signed with Tampa Bay) and come back from a foot injury that limited him to two games in 2019.
Have the Patriots done enough at tight end?
New England retained Matt
LaCosse and Ryan Izzo after they were the second- and third-stringers as part of one of the worst tight end groups in the NFL in 2019. Ben Watson, the top option, retired.
But the 2020 draft was a step in the right direction. New England selected UCLA’s Asiasi at No. 91 overall, and Virginia
Tech’s Dalton Keene (101st overall) fell to the Patriots in the third round. Asiasi had a nice senior season for the Bruins, with 44 catches, 641 yards and four touchdowns, but had eight receptions before that season. Even so, he seems he could fit naturally into the offense.
Keene’s fit in New England is a bit more complicated. He was a jack-of-all-trades in college but didn’t excel in any one way. He spent time at tight end, fullback and H-back. He looked comfortable running routes out of the backfield but needs to improve his downfield route running.
It seems like a better group
than in 2019. But it’s still not clear whether it’s enough.
Just how good can this defense be?
The defense was one of the NFL’s best in 2019, but it was also one of the league’s oldest. New England was seemingly careful and frugal about retaining aging talent by re-signing safety Devin McCourty and cornerback Jason McCourty while watching linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy leave in free agency.
New England then restocked the linebacker position with low-budget free agent Brandon Copeland and draft selections Josh Uche (Michigan) and Anfernee Jennings (Alabama).
The secondary looks just as fearsome, with all the starters returning, including the McCourtys and Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore. It may look even better with second-round pick and safety Kyle Dugger arriving.