Patriots: Why Cam Newton’s latest comments should be breath of fresh air for Bill Belichick

Cam Newton’s comments this week were met with mixed reviews, but here’s why the Patriots should be OK with them.

When the Patriots signed Cam Newton, a lot of people immediately thought — aside from, “great, just when we thought they were dead, they’re back to a Super Bowl contender” — how is the former MVP’s personality going to mesh with the typically humble environment in New England?

That discussion has only raged on after Cam said some things, that, as some rightfully believed, could be interpreted the wrong way from the Patriots perspective.

“You know who [you’re] coming after? I’m like, yeah, great. What he was, what he is, is great, needs no even talking about it,” Newton said. “But one thing about it, though: Coach [Josh] McDaniels, you’re able to call some stuff that you ain’t ever been able to call now.

“You’re getting a dog. You’re getting one of these ticked-off dogs too. And I’m looking at the schedule and I’m like, ‘Who we’re playing? That team passed on me! OK, that team passed on me. They could’ve came and got me.'”

Watching the video is certainly much more revealing than reading the quote. Everyone knew Cam didn’t say anything out of line, but he’s still outspoken in a way many Patriots players past and present are not. Does Bill Belichick encourage his players to show emotions and express themselves on game day? Absolutely.

However, the same doesn’t go for their interactions with the press. You’ll hardly ever find a soundbite out of New England that you can use to make a sensationalist headline with.

But Newton is quite different. He’s outspoken on many levels because that’s who he is. He gives the media a ton to work with, whether it’s good or bad. He flaunts his personality with his eccentric sense of fashion. That’s surely a culture shock when you consider Tom Brady wore beanies to press conferences and gave the most buttoned-down answers you could imagine.

The man is an open book. He’s as genuine as genuine can be. When Cam is telling Josh McDaniels he can start calling plays he never has before, he’s expressing his motivation to bring something to the table Tom Brady couldn’t. When he’s going down the list of teams that passed up on signing him, he’s showing the Patriots he’s ready to work after feeling disrespected for so long — and doesn’t that feel particularly Brady-ish? Or are we forgetting his draft day?

This should be a breath of fresh air for the Patriots and Belichick, who saw an unprecedented amount of roster turnover this offseason that could very well require establishing a new identity.

However, to assume the Patriots might not be thrilled with that isn’t out of the question or insane to ponder considering the organization’s past behavior and reservations. That could very well still be a concern, but on the flip side of it, there are many more reasons for the Patriots to be thrilled with Newton’s character and what he has to say.

Just imagine the Patriots upping their swagger with a guy like Newton, who is out to prove himself after feeling disrespected for the last three months? The best of both worlds could be colliding in New England and many don’t even realize it yet.