Cam Newton is very, very, very ready to prove the doubters wrong with the New England Patriots.
That underdog edge that the Patriots have been faux-manufacturing for a decade, ever since Tom Brady became theoretically “old”? Now, they’ve got it for real.
Cam Newton is the physical manifestation of a “We’re still here!” chant, and he seems utterly unafraid to unleash what he’s working with.
Newton let us all into the lab again on Saturday night, with a black and white video that should show Patriots fans exactly what type of man they’re getting as their next QB. He’s not ready to give up, and he’s willing to change and upgrade himself to get back to the level he believes he should always approach.
Cam swears we “ain’t never seen this Cam before,” which should be deeply upsetting to his AFC rivals, considering he once went 15-1 and won the MVP.
Of course, all this guy does is post motivational workout flexes, so he’ll definitely fit right into a Patriots locker room obsessed with doing their job. This isn’t eyewash. Cam never turns it off.
For all the nonsensical talk of Cam being unable or unwilling to blend into the Patriots locker room, all the team really values is hard work, which their new QB delivers in droves.
Has the team really deemphasized stardom over the years? Perhaps when Gronk was visibly partying and trying to further his own career, but can you really claim that his tenure in New England was muted? Tom Brady hosted “Saturday Night Live” and starred in “Ted” — he was certainly the singular focus, more often than not.
If you work hard, and you deliver, Bill Belichick will let you preen as much as you want, even if you want to host a drunken boat party.
Luckily, Newton doesn’t want any of that. He just wants you to believe in him again.