Patriots: Cam Newton attends voluntary workouts after NFL drama

Last week, New England Patriots players released a statement saying “many of [them]” wouldn’t participate in voluntary offseason workouts at the team facility.

This, of course, has been a polarizing topic of conversation over the last few weeks.

Several teams around the league have chosen to follow recommendations from the NFL players’ union, which has continued to push for a second consecutive virtual offseason program.

The Patriots’ statement was unsigned and it’s currently unclear how many players will end up participating in these workouts.

However, the narrative might be changing with OTAs getting started this week, as one of the faces of the team was present at the first session.

According to ESPN insider Mike Reiss, quarterback Cam Newton was “among those leading the charge in attendance” as the Patriots’ program gets underway on Monday with the opening of their facility and weight room.

Patriots QB Cam Newton attended voluntary workouts on Monday.

It remains to be seen if Newton is defying the NFLPA or simply wants to start this crucial offseason off on the right foot. We’d personally side with the latter, as the former MVP simply cannot afford to skip out of anything after his lackluster display under center last campaign.

Newton clearly suffered the consequences of a truncated offseason last year, as he didn’t sign until right before training camp and never got fully acclimated to the playbook. Why would he put himself in that position again…especially on an incentive-laden one-year contract?

And…there’s a financial incentive here. Newton gets a $100,000 offseason workout bonus, which he appears reticent to sacrifice.

It really says a lot that Newton is out here leading the charge for the Patriots. After all, he understands the trials and tribulations of the COVID-19 pandemic better than anyone, as he tested positive and was forced away from the team for two weeks last season.

Given the current state of the pandemic, which is still spreading at dangerous rates in certain areas of the country, the NFLPA feels that a virtual offseason program would epitomize the most attentive and safest approach possible for its players.

As of Monday, almost half the league — including the Rams, 49ers, Saints, Dolphins, Browns, Bears, Giants, Steelers, Eagles, Ravens, Chargers, Jets, Falcons and Lions — released statements backing the players’ association for a virtual-exclusive offseason.

While you can understand why the union is exercising caution, you can also see why Newton and so many other players across the league have chosen to attend voluntary workouts.

Not only is the veteran gunslinger in dire need of a bounce-back season, but he’s one of the leaders of the locker room and his decision to participate will undoubtedly resonate with his Patriots teammates…even the ones who have opted to take a stand by not showing up.

At least, we hope.

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