After a debut season for the New England Patriots in which Cam Newton threw more interceptions than touchdowns, the former NFL MVP says he overheard the conversation about retirement.
He is not accepting.
In an appearance on the “I’m an Athlete” podcast with former NFL players Chad Johnson, Brandon Marshall and Fred Taylor, Newton made it clear that he intends to continue playing. And he believes he is still an early caliber quarterback in the NFL.
‘I can’t go out like this’
“Of course not,” said Newton of retirement. “I can’t go out like this. I hear all that talk. My pride doesn’t allow me to do that. There aren’t 32 better guys than me.”
After two seasons full of injuries with the Carolina Panthers, Newton, 31, looked little like the electric quarterback who accompanied his Superman personality during his MVP heyday.
He started off strong when the Patriots won two of the first three games with Newton in the center. He combined for six touchdowns against two turnovers at the start of 2-1, giving hope in New England that the Patriots could succeed after Tom Brady.
COVID-19 performs acrobatics in Newton’s season
But Newton hired COVID-19 and did not prepare for a Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. When he returned in week 5 against the Denver Broncos, the Patriots’ attack stalled and New England embarked on a three-game losing streak. When the season was over, the Patriots lost the playoffs 7-9, and Newton recorded eight passing touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
The experience of a New England season was far from successful.
Did COVID-19 play a role in Newton’s performance?
Newton said he did not experience any serious symptoms of COVID-19, except for the loss of smell. But when he returned to the New England team, he felt that the lost time was a major setback for a quarterback in a new system. Especially coming from a pre-season that was stunted by the pandemic.
“When I came back, I didn’t feel physically, skillfully,” said Newton. “A lot of that discomfort came before the snap. …
“I’m lost. I’m thinking a lot. … The offense continued, and I stood still and stuck for two weeks. When I came back, it was new terminology … I wasn’t just trying to learn a system for what it was, I was learning a – let’s be honest – a 20 year old system in two months. “
Cam about signing again with Patriots: ‘Of course I do’
So Newton – a pending free agent – wants another chance in New England, even if he comes up with another one-year contract?
“Yes. Of course,” said Newton. “I’m getting tired of moving. I’m at a point in my career where I know a lot more than I did last year.”
Whether the Patriots want Newton back is an entirely different matter. After the bitter taste of third place at AFC Oriente, they may be ready to turn the page. For now, there is no apparent answer in the New England quarterback.
If New England – or any other potential Newton contender – is looking for a bright side to his 2020 campaign, it is that he was still efficient as a runner, scoring 592 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground at 4.3 yards per load.
Cam talks about former college buddy Aaron Hernandez
Newton was not strictly limited to football during the fluid discussion. The topic Aaron Hernandez also came up. Newton played college in Florida with the former NFL player who died in prison by suicide while serving a life sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd.
He said that the Hernandez he knew was a different man.
“I saw the youngest of them,” said Newton. “The way he is portrayed as a villain is not him. Don’t get me wrong, in all aspects of what happened, there were bodies that were damaged, and I’m not denying that what was done was bad. But I knew one beautiful soul, he was fun and loving, and he just wanted to get to the league.
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