By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
If you’re still under the belief that Cam Newton and the Patriots “won’t mesh,” you have to be living under a rock. Newton has done nothing but embrace the Patriot Way since arriving in Foxboro, and he’s starting to see the results. The 31-year-old was named the Patriots starting QB and a team captain on Thursday.
“Words can’t even explain my feelings when I heard,” Newton said of being named a captain. “As far as when it comes to this team, it’s nothing that I wouldn’t do besides put their best interests at heart and to be captain was just something that was just like, rewarding to hear.”
Newton had a similar response when asked about being named starting quarterback.
“That’s another emotion that it’s just hard to kind of explain in words. But I’ve had a plan since I’ve been here just to become the best player I can possibly be,” he told reporters on Friday. “I just try to be of service in any way shape or form I possibly can be anything that they asked of me to do, it’s my job to do it.”
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As for his relationship with Bill Belichick, Newton says things are going better than he expected. “If anything, you appreciate his greatness even more,” Newton said of being around the six-time Super Bowl champion. “He’s an unbelievable teacher of the game. And I think that’s not highlighted enough, especially from a person of his caliber and status.”
While the overall tone of the press conference was celebratory, Newton did acknowledge he knows these accolades from the team are a beginning, not and end.
“Now the real work kind of starts for me knowing that I have to prove it each and every day,” the 2015 NFL MVP said. “I know that I have people that’s looking to me [and] others in that leadership council to kind of direct the team in the right way.”
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That work begins next Sunday, when the Patriots open the season against the Miami Dolphins. Not much is known about what the Patriots offense will look like with Newton, and how much will be changed from last year.
In Patriots captain-like fashion Newton wasn’t about to spoil the reveal. “I think the most exciting thing is that nobody knows. And you’re still not gonna know. So you just got to tune in and see.”
Newton continued through laughs, “That’s what excites me the most because everybody’s kinda having the same questions like, ‘What are they going to do? Are they going to do this? Are they going to do that? Are they gonna do that? Are they gonna do this?’ I’m not going going to tell you. I mean, come on. It’s almost game week, guy. You can’t just let all of the tricks out of the hat.”
Nine days left until the tricks are out of the hat, and everybody gets to see what the Patriots and Newton have been working on all summer.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at Alexander.Barth@bbgi.com.