Cam Newton was candid about his short stint with the New England Patriots during his recent appearance with The Big Podcast with Shaq, presented by Playmaker HQ.
During the podcast episode, the 2015 NFL MVP admitted he had regrets about his one-season stay at Foxborough. One was that they were playing home games without fans in the stands due to COVID-19, and the other was that he somehow took Bill Belichick, his coach at the time, for granted.
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“Love that whole experience. Bill Belichick is a legend. And I downplayed his presence. I downplayed the Patriots way. That was just an experience that I still hold dear and true to my world of business, let alone anything else,” said Newton.
“No doubt that the Patriots organization is run like a fine-oiled business. Everybody’s on the same page and it’s all about winning whatever you need,” he added.
How did Cam Newton’s stay with the New England Patriots go?
After spending the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton suddenly found himself with nowhere to go after he was released. However, he got his second chance with the New England Patriots, who signed him on a one-year deal.
Newton was the first successor to Tom Brady, who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowls. The team got off to a 2-2 start with wins over the Miami Dolphins and the Las Vegas Raiders, but the wheels fell off after blowout losses against the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills.
With a 7-9 record, the New England Patriots missed the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2008. Newton finished the 2020 campaign with 2,657 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions for a 65.8 completion percentage, and he also rushed for 592 yards.
COVID-19 essentially ruined Cam Newton’s stay in New England. After signing a new one-year deal in March 2021, Newton missed three days of practice due to a “misunderstanding” related to COVID-19 protocols after a medical appointment outside of the New England area.
And during the final roster cuts, Newton was one of the casualties. The three-time Pro Bowler played one more season with the Carolina Panthers, finishing with 684 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and five interceptions for a 54.8 completion percentage.
