How did Cam Newton quickly adjust to the Patriot Way?

Even with no preseason games, Cam Newton quickly adjusted to the ‘Patriot Way’.

If you had said back in 2016 that Cam Newton would eventually end up with the New England Patriots, most people would have laughed you out the door.

Coming off a season in which the Carolina Panthers went 15-1 and reached the Super Bowl while Newton had won MVP, it was out of the question that Newton would be playing his career anywhere but Carolina.

Fast forward to 2019 and Newton found himself with injuries ravaging his body and relegating him to the sidelines with Kyle Allen as the Panthers starter. Soon afterward, Newton was released and without a job. From the No. 1 overall pick to an NFL MVP to a Super Bowl appearance and then, suddenly, in free agency. Is it fair to say he left on bad terms with the franchise? Most likely, yes.

Then came July 8, 2020, when the New England Patriots came along quietly and signed Newton to be their quarterback. A stunning reaction no doubt considering the Patriots had just moved on from the GOAT himself, Tom Brady, and were in a position to possibly address the quarterback in the future.

A former MVP with a chip on his shoulder was available for the minimum and hoping to prove his worth to the team? No doubt a stunning transaction for a franchise that needed it. Yet, with COVID-19 continuing to affect the offseason, preseason games were canceled and Newton wouldn’t get a chance to see the field until Week 1.

When the season-opener rolled around, though, Newton went 15-of-19 for 155 yards and an interception but rushed for two scores in a 21-11 victory. While he’s always been an exuberant figure, Newton was serious and determined in his first game with New England, focusing on his teammates and the team’s success rather than just his own. He embodied the Patriot Way — but how did that happen so quickly amid the circumstances?

How did New England get Cam Newton bought into the ‘Patriot Way’ so quickly?

The answer, in fact, is very simple. Bill Belichick.

In professional football, you can have fun, but at the same time, you have an obligation to be improving your craft and helping your team win. Success is not measured in statistics unless you happen to be a television personality who loves stats more than results.

Additionally, three words are true when it comes to being a successful NFL player. Determination, Dedication and Discipline. Cam Newton has shown those traits but, as a Panther, you only saw a version where he didn’t always portray it well.

Now in New England, it seems as if things have changed. Based on Week 1, it’s safe to assume that, should the Patriots lose, you won’t see the version of Newton from the Super Bowl 50 press conference. Instead, it’s a more disciplined, hungry iteration of the quarterback you could expect to see.

Furthermore, with a majority of the Patriots roster having been accustomed to the Patriot Way, it should not be a surprise that Newton has fit right in and aggressively, albeit respectfully, found a way to galvanize the team and rekindle a winning spirit that had been lost back in January’s Wild Card loss.

It may be just one game or a small sample size but the reality is clear: Cam Newton is on a mission to prove people wrong — and who better to guide him than the hoodie himself. Be careful what you wish for, NFL. Newton is ready. Contrary to your belief, a determined individual is the last person you want to dab upon your wrong opinion.