Cam Newton has already done enough to deserve contract extension

Cam Newton has already proved he deserves a real contract from the Patriots.

What more do you need to see? Cam Newton has seamlessly transitioned in taking over for Tom Brady, and the New England Patriots look like they could do big things this year. Tighten up the defense, figure out the running game, and this team could have a shot to compete against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.

After a conservative Week 1 showing on offense, the Pats unleashed Newton in Week 2 against the Seahawks, and the former MVP threw for 397, rushed for 47, and scored three total touchdowns. He nearly grabbed his fourth on the final play of the game, but was stopped short of the goal line in an effort to get the Patriots a win in the final seconds.

Newton has a firm grasp of the offense and clearly hasn’t lost any of his passing abilities. He was throwing with pinpoint accuracy and eluding the rush like we saw two years ago.

If he’s performing like this in just his second start with a new team, in a completely different system, and after being a free agent for 86 nights, the Patriots need to act fast before he builds his value even more. New England already made out like bandits guaranteeing him just $550K in 2020.

It’s time to offer him a lucrative three-year extension and provide a clear outlook for the foreseeable future. Newton has earned it, and at this point, a downgrade in 2021 will dearly hurt the Pats. He’s already the unquestioned leader of this team and has been dubbed “one of the hardest working players” Bill Belichick has ever seen.

The Patriots got lucky that no other team offered the former MVP a contract this offseason in, what pretty much everyone knows at this point, is proving to be malpractice by the other general managers across the league in need of a quarterback.

And if New England’s future isn’t Newton-centric … where else are you going here? They’re far too good to nab a top draft pick in 2021, and the free agency pipeline doesn’t feature superior options. Cam Newton is better than Jarrett Stidham.

Ever think Newton was held back a little bit in Carolina? Aside from that short stint with Steve Smith Sr., Cam never really had a No. 1 wideout. Tight end Greg Olsen led the team in receiving three times. The Panthers wide receiving corps was hardly much of a threat throughout his nine seasons in Carolina.

Now, though it isn’t much of an upgrade, he’s got Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, and a talented backfield that boasts Sony Michel, James White and Rex Burkhead, all of whom play a role in the rushing and receiving game. Plus, when you consider Josh McDaniels to be a superior offensive coordinator to Norv Turner, Mike Shula and Rob Chudzinski, it’s clear Newton can reach heights he’s perhaps never seen before.

The Patriots’ system caters to the QB unlike any other, and with Newton’s dual-threat abilities, McDaniels will be able to throw off opposing defenses, because New England prepares for games week in and week out arguably better than any other NFL team.

There’s value in that, too, which is why Newton deserves real money aside from this dumpy one-year deal, because he’s already proven capable to operate under unfamiliar and complicated circumstances after just two weeks.

Bill Belichick was awkwardly silent when being asked about not taking timeout

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was awkwardly silent when he was asked about not taking a timeout in the final minute on Sunday night.