Patriots: Cam Newton and Devin McCourty respond to Jacob Blake shooting

Patriots stars Cam Newton and Devin McCourty discussed the Jacob Blake shooting with the media.

Since reporting to training camp, Cam Newton has been burdened with proving himself to the Patriots cutthroat coaching staff. He’s also had to win a quarterback battle despite his resume being far more distinguished than that of his running mates.

In a refreshing turn of events, this hasn’t hindered Newton’s approach to the game. Footage from practice has shown him being his normal energetic self, dancing while stretching and dapping up teammates after impressive plays.

However, the former MVP’s buoyant tone understandably changed on Wednesday when he spoke to reporters for the first time since the shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed black man who took seven bullets to the back from a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

These are incredibly heartfelt words from Newton, who stressed the importance of athletes continuing to speak out against racial injustice. It’s clear the 31-year-old quarterback has been inspired by the powerful actions of the NBA, which postponed playoff games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in an effort to protest police brutality and racism.

Newton didn’t just take to the microphone to address the matter, either. The three-time Pro Bowler shared a disturbing graphic on Instagram that really speaks to the issues currently engulfing the nation.

As unsettling as that photo is, it sadly encapsulates the climate of the country, so Newton deserves credit for letting his voice be heard. Amazingly enough, he wasn’t the only Patriot to tackle this subject this week.

Longtime safety Devin McCourty, who’s entering his 11th season with New England, unleashed a poignant monologue about the responsibility of athletes to shine a spotlight on racial injustice and social issues.

Reverting back to the graphic that Newton shared on social media, the majority of McCourty’s conversation revolved around questioning why being black is viewed as more of a threat to some people than a white teenager walking the streets with an assault rifle.

To think that’s even a debate being had in 2020 is so disheartening. We would expect nothing less from Newton and McCourty, but both of them still deserve praise for taking a stand, demanding change, and speaking as eloquently as possible in regards to such a difficult subject.