What will Cam Newton bring to the New England Patriots?

The 2015 Most Valuable Player, Cam Newton is a talented quarterback who can bring his talents to a team that needs someone they can plug and play. After the New England Patriots lost Tom Brady, they had to decide on starting Jarrett Stidham, who played limited snaps last season, or bringing in a new starter who was ready to hit the field. The original meetings with Newton did not seem to go as planned and the Patriots looked as if they would pass on him. Fast forward a few weeks and Newton was signed on a minimum contract with a lot of incentives, giving the sign that Newton will start this season. There are many aspects of football Newton does well, he has a winning mindset and the passion to succeed. Anyone can say that their quarterback has passion, but it is clear when Newton plays, he plays with pride. Although Newton will play for the Patriots, he does not resemble the Patriots former QB, Tom Brady in any way. Newton is ready to play from the bench, he is aware he might have to earn his spot, and he is ready to earn it. Injury concerns might be the only thing holding Cam Newton back this upcoming season! 

In Newton’s career his record is 66-55-1. While many of these seasons the Panthers struggled to compete, because of a less skilled roster, it was Newton who played a leading role in converting the wins. Cam Newton comes into games with the set mindset of getting a win, he does not focus on who the opponent is, but just how can his team win the game. This may be the reason he led his team to a Superbowl with a 15-1 record. And although the Panthers suffered a loss to the Denver Broncos, they fought their way to the finals with a winning mindset and a passion for football. This passion is shared with his new head coach and many of the players on the Patriots, a team with a fantastic defense who is looking to revamp their offence, making them a contender for the playoffs in 2021. This team is one receiver away from being a dark horse Superbowl candidate. 

With 58 career rushing touchdowns and 4806 rushing yards, Cam Newton brings a new kind of mobility to the quarterback spot. His dual threat ability might be a main reason for his career success. In Tom Brady’s 19-year career he has rushed for 1000 yards. In Newtons 9-year career he has over 3800 more rushing yards than Brady. The difference between the two are the average yards per carry, while Brady throughout his career has averaged 1.7, Newton manages 5.1 yards per carry. This will make a significant difference in play styles for the Pats this season, from a more traditional strong-arm quarterback to much more of an option read player. Newton is a more modern player he is also 11 years younger. It will be interesting to see how a traditional coach like Bill Belichick will use a player like Cam Newton, but the passion and winning mindset is there for both. 

The one knock on Newton’s career has been his ability to throw the ball consistently and, shoulder injuries have haunted him. Originally in 2017 Newton had surgery to repair his rotator cuff in his right shoulder. This would later affect the range of motion in his shoulder, very much affecting his ability to play football. Newton has the skill to throw the football, but his body is still holding him back. Newton has said that he was recovered, and he was almost ready back in 2019. With the knowledge of the injury Cam Newton is ready to work for his starting spot on the Patriots knowing they will not hand it to him. He will have to work hard and practice for that spot. If Newton can throw the ball like he did in 2015 or 2016, the Patriots found a diamond in the rough with Cam Newton. His injury scares are what made teams shy to sign him. But the idea of having a dual threat quarterback on the New England Patriots is an extremely exciting thought. 

This article is original content published by sports writer Matthew White. Please feel free to link to and discuss this article but do not copy content.

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