Cam: ‘Put-up or shut-up time’

No one knows the stakes of Cam Newton’s upcoming season better than the man himself.

“At times, I do remind myself people forget who you are, and what you’ve done. So now I’m in a position now where I need to be my best self,” Newton said Thursday during an appearance on ESPN Radio’s Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin. “It’s really put-up or shut-up time.”

After Newton re-signed on a one-year, incentive-laden deal last March, Pats coach Bill Belichick again named him the starter, despite the fact he’s coming off the worst season of his career and Belichick drafted former Alabama quarterback Mac Jones in the first round. Newton completed 65.8% of his passes for 2,657 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 picks, while rushing for 12 scores. Several of the factors that contributed to Newton’s struggles in 2020 — a bout with COVID-19, system inexperience and a lack of chemistry with his receivers — are now seen as behind him.

However, his last successful campaign as a starter was three years ago, a sign this season could be his last shot.

“For me, the Patriots’ organization has been impeccable ... so my time there has been everything I could have asked for,” Newton said. “I guess it’s now time for me to uphold my end of the bargain, through and through.”