Cam Newton’s Julian Edelman quote proves he’s learned from Belichick

Patriots QB Cam Newton’s quote about wideout Julian Edelman proves he’s adopted the team’s culture.

Most Patriots fans are probably aware that Cam Newton appears on WEEI Radio at the beginning of every week to discuss the team’s performance from the previous Sunday.

Objectively speaking, the interviews have become must-listen for the fan base, as the 31-year-old quarterback is pleasingly candid and unfiltered about his performances and adjustments he can make to improve moving forward.

However, this week (for the most part) was an entirely different story. While Newton was outspoken about the majority of the topics that were tackled, he amazingly acknowledged that somebody within the organization instructed him to not speak on wide receiver Julian Edelman’s recovery from knee surgery.

If this quote doesn’t prove that Newton has learned from head coach Bill Belichick and has embraced the Patriots’ no-nonsense culture, then nothing does.

How can fans not love that? Newton’s reticent verbiage almost implies that he’s terrified of the consequences that come with disobeying an order from Belichick, and that perfectly encapsulates everything the Patriots stand for as an organization: respect and stability.

Newton knows how much the fan base is clamoring for an update on Edelman, who hasn’t played since Week 7 due to a knee injury and is technically eligible to be activated off injured reserve at any moment once he clears COVID protocols. However, the fact that the QB didn’t fall for the low-hanging fruit proves that he’s the perfect spokesperson and leader for the team.

Think about it for a second. From the moment Newton signed with the Patriots in late June, he literally hasn’t put a foot wrong in front of the microphone. We couldn’t always say that about him during his tenure in Carolina, when he was often spotted deflecting blame and not taking responsibility for his mistakes.

Over just a few months with the Patriots, the three-time Pro Bowler has done a 180 in that department, taking ownership for the most marginal of blunders and vowing to improve his performance after season-saving wins.

That’s what we like to call the Belichick effect.

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