Cam Newton described him as “the elephant in the room”.
In his first public comments about the possibility of replacing Tom Brady as the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback, he said in a YouTube video released Monday that Brady is “great,” but he also sees his arrival in New England as a opportunity to expand the team. offense, somehow.
“(People) said, ‘Do you know who (you go) next?'” Newton said during the round table with current NFL players Odell Beckham Jr. and Todd Gurley and former NFL player Victor Cruz. “I’m like, ‘yes, great. What he was, what he is, is great. He doesn’t even need to talk about it.’
“But one thing about it: Coach (Josh) McDaniels, you can call some things that you have never been able to call before. You are getting a dog. You are getting one of these – about the dogs too. And I’m looking at the schedule and wondering:” Who do we play? That team passed me! Ok, that team passed me. They could have come and caught me. “”
Newton has not yet held a virtual introductory conference since joining the Patriots. His remarks came amid a broad, hour-long conversation about racial injustice, COVID-19, off-season training and motivation, among other topics.
The 31-year-old, who signed a one-year contract with the Patriots late last month, spoke extensively about his time with the Carolina Panthers and his experience as a free agent this spring. He said for three months he watched in frustration as other teams signed older and more injury-prone quarterbacks on him.
“I will be the first person to tell you: In these past two years, I have not been shooting the best movie. That is honest,” said Newton. “But at the same time, I’m fine, there are other people who have been publishing (improper) movies that are being picked up. I feel disrespected.”
Newton recalled that when his agent first spoke to him of New England interest, his first reaction was to ask himself: “How (and) (Bill) Belichick are we going to fit in?” But he said his initial reaction was simply wrapped up in his perception of the coach.
Several minutes later, the conversation went back to Newton’s time in Carolina and the belief that he was “kicked out” because he was not healthy.
“Now I’m going to another situation where I’m possibly the best coach,” said Newton. “It’s like we’re playing swords, it’s like, ‘Brother, you give me your hand, and you get my hand, and let’s see what you will do with it.'”
Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
