Patriots: Cam Newton’s latest Instagram post shows he’s already back to work
We’re not even a week into free agency and the New England Patriots already feel like a totally revived team ready to make everyone forget about their lackluster 2020 season.
In what was deemed a “terrible” campaign by most fans, Bill Belichick’s side finished 7-9 and weren’t fully out of the playoff picture until the final couple weeks of the season.
Not too bad for a team that had COVID issues, free agency losses and opt outs!
One player who was significantly adversely affected by all of that was quarterback Cam Newton, who officially signed on with the team in July, had a shortened offseason program, no preseason, and then was hit with a COVID-19 diagnosis a few weeks into the year.
Though those insurmountable setbacks contributed to his poor season, it was also evident the former MVP had some things to work on if he wanted to return to a semblance of the star player he once was.
Pats fans will be ecstatic to know he’s already begun that journey shortly after signing his one-year deal to return to the team.
Back to the basics and working on those mechanics. Newton now has a plethora of weapons in the receiving game after the additions of Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, which is world’s better than his non-existent tight end room and wide receiving corps that consisted of Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry and Damiere Byrd in 2020.
Also, Belichick beefed up the offensive line to provide Newton with better and more consistent protection. However, it’ll be up to the quarterback to get rid of the ball and be aware of incoming pressure, which he had a problem with over the last year.
Update on the #Patriots offseason from (starting?) QB Cam Newtonpic.twitter.com/y8dVOtxXVL
— Jones & Mego with Arcand (@JonesandMego) March 19, 2021
He’s once again motivated by the doubters and knows he has even more to prove in his second year given he was the man leading the charge that resulted in a playoff-less campaign for the Patriots for the first time in over a decade AND a losing season for the first time in over two decades.
But if we were willing to bet, we’d say that the veteran is as ready as ever. He’s got months (instead of weeks) to prepare, has a new and improved talented cast to work with, and won’t be under as much pressure with the sting of Tom Brady departing slowly dissipating in New England.
Super Cam to the rescue in 2021.