Cam Newton, at least in the version that showed up in Foxboro about a year ago, has been one of the most fascinating athletes I've ever covered, mostly for his candor when he talks to the media.
The Cam Newton in Carolina, at least for us on the outside looking in, was akin to a superstar. He was an NBA player playing in a sport filled with mostly grunts. He seemed untouchable.
Cam the Patriot has been a mortal and eminently relatable. Perhaps that was due to the helping of humble pie he's been seved the past few years, especially after the Panthers told him they didn't want him back and Newton was forced to take a modest deal with the Patriots — let alone his on-field struggles last season. Every session with the media, especially Thursday's session with friend Keyshawn Johnson on ESPN, feels like Newton opening up a vein to let people behind the curtain of the persona that is definitely in the twilight.
I've gone over and through his comments a few times. Wanted to give them a chance to sink in and not immediately react. A lot was said and we'll touch on the important stuff. But there's one passage that stood out to me.
"Truth be told, nothing is going to matter until .. training camp goes forward," Newton said. "Everybody's going to start seeing okay, what's the work that's been put in? Has he been in the playbook? Does he really understand (the offense)? Is he in good shape? Is his shoulder holding up? Is his foot holding up?
"We play in a sport that's strictly based off of the final product and the final product is on game days. So, you know, with that being said, it's just gonna come down to winning and losing. So I could tell you every single thing that you want to hear I could get everybody riled up and say this and promise this and do that and that. But, you know, I'm aware of the situation and I'm telling you I'm doing everything that's asked of me for my personal expectations and everything else.
"I know I have to be better. I know I have to be accurate. I know I have to work on the sort of subtleties this offense provides and making the necessary adjustments. ... God has blessed me with a specific talent and I'm happy to have the skill set this far in my career, to have the opportunity to play. So yeah, make the most of each and every opportunity, no matter how it comes and what it is."
To this, I say, hallelujah. Cam gets it. He understands that absolutely nothing is promised to him in New England. He realizes all the areas he came up short last year, from his accuracy to his playbook to adjustments at the line to the composition of his body. Newton understands if he's not significantly better this season, he's not going to play (and he also indicated he will be just fine if the Patriots ultimately do turn to Mac Jones).
I've seen athletes of Newton's stature before and they do not always go quietly into the night. They are not always willing to roll up their sleeves and put in the work to change and improve at age 32. They are not always willing to look into a mirror and see a real image, to admit they don't have all the answers and that they might not, at the end of the day, still be Superman.
Just like Newton said in the interview that he's not going to sit there and tell the public lies to get them jazzed for Cam The Patriot 2.0, I'm not going to say you should expect a better Cam in 2021. In fact, the Cam from the offseason practices show that's unlikely to happen.
But at least this Newton gets it. He knows he has to win or the Patriots are going to put someone else in. He knows this team has pieces to win now, and that he can't say he will definitely be the one to lead them. He wouldn't even tell you that all the spending Bill Belichick did this offseason on the offensive side of the ball hasn't even surrounded Newton with the best talent he's been around.
"No, I wouldn't, I wouldn't necessarily say that," Newton said. "I'd say I'm excited about this group. I believe in this group. ... It's just all about come back to the mirror effect and me taking it personal than everybody else taking the person to is not necessarily about me, it's about everybody, you know, on the New England Patriots. To take accountability and, you know, do their job as the season approaches."
Newton may have said we'll see a "different Boogie going into this season" but the most significant portions were about Newton being real with his situation and his place.
Newton may not be the most accurate passer in the world. His legs may again wear down. He might get beat out by a rookie at the end of the day.
But Cam Newton as a professional football player and realist ... that guy has a place on this team no matter what.
Other significant passages from Newton:
"For me, the Patriots' organization has been impeccable ... my time there has been everything I could have asked for. I guess it's now time for me to uphold my end of the bargain, through and through."
Not a shock. Both sides have been thrilled with what they have provided each other, at least off the field.
"I know who I am, you know, at a time. You know at times I do for you know remind myself, people forget who you are and what you've done. So now, you know, I'm in a position now where you need to be my best self and this really put up or shut up time."
Newton knows this is his Last Chance Saloon. Either he leads the Patriots to wins and he holds onto his job, or he's going to lose out to a first-round pick and be at a crossroads after this season.