Cam Newton and the New England Patriots earned their fourth win of the season last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
Although 4-5 on the year and holding down third place in the AFC East isn’t quite where New England hoped to be this year, there is not much the team can do about it at this point.
Part of the reason for the Patriots’ uncharacteristic woes is all the new faces in prominent positions this year. One such new face: Newton. This week, while speaking to the media, the former league MVP opened up about what it was like to work with head coach Bill Belichick.
“Listen, everything that coach coaches throughout the week, it tends to come up,” he said.
“I’m beginning to think he either has like a Staples easy button or a Buffalo Wild Wings button or just a straight direct line to the football gods because he’s, like, a football whisperer when it comes to anticipating what the game’s going to be like, how we need to win, and things like that. I’m extremely impressed with that.”
Cam Newton said Bill Belichick has a direct line to the football Gods because he’s a football whisperer. pic.twitter.com/eF8PwvjzNf
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) November 16, 2020
Newton did not stop there. He also credited his offensive line for being able to impose its will on a Ravens group that most folks thought very highly of heading into this weekend.
“Well, we have our keys to victory and week-in and week-out, Coach hammers it in each and every day with reminding us about, you know, If we’re going to win, this is what we’re going to have to do,” Newton said.
Paige Spiranac kept it very real. https://t.co/I4ZnqikeDM
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 17, 2020
“And I’m just excited that the offensive line was able to impose their will and play a great team and this was going to be a great test for us and we knew that and for our guys not to back down, but take it more upon themselves as a challenge, and obviously they did a good job.”
For what it’s worth – the respect between Newton and Belichick seems to be mutual. During his session with the media this week, the Patriots head coach complimented his quarterback on his leadership.
The perks of being a Laker. https://t.co/yt6hWFrxXi
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 17, 2020
“Cam’s got a good leadership style,” Belichick said. “He has a good personality. He gets along with everybody, works with everybody. I think everybody feels a positive connection to him. He knows who they are and cares about them and wants to fit in as a member of the team, just like everybody else does. I think we all appreciate and respect that.
“So, he demands a lot of himself, which is a good leadership trait, and he’s very supportive of his teammates, which is another good leadership trait. So, I think he’s done a good job, especially considering that it’s a new team and he doesn’t have the background that some other players, that a lot of us have in this organization,” Belichick continued.
“But, he kind of brings a different, kind of a fresher maybe energy or perspective to the things that I think we all can appreciate that, as well. So, I think it’s really worked out in a positive way from that standpoint.
Anthony Davis just tells it like it is. https://t.co/fWi1pM30gc
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 17, 2020
“I’m sure he’s learned some things about our organization and learned some things from us, and I think we’ve all learned some things from him. You can see why he’s accomplished so much in other – whether it be in Carolina or at Auburn – why he’s been so successful in other places over a long period of time, as well.”
The Patriots have showdowns on the books against the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams over the next month. Assuming everything goes according to plan, a 2-2 record is not an unreasonable expectation.
At this juncture a playoff spot is obviously out of reach. A .500 record, however? That is a somewhat realistic possibility.
Related: James Harden Wants Off Rockets Over Tilman Fertitta’s Trump Support?
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
