FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Cam Newton has mostly reached a positive deal in his first year with the New England Patriots, but after another frustrating performance in which he was dragged in the middle of the third quarter of the loss to the Buffalo Bills, he left challenge. .
Newton was asked about a graphic on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” show that showed that he woke up every day at 4:20 in the morning, left home at 4:30 and did not retire to the night until 11:30 p.m.
“This has been my schedule for 90% of the time I’ve been here, so you can understand the frustration I have when I don’t have the result, because I’m sacrificing a lot. He’s talking to someone who hasn’t seen his children. in three months, ”Newton said.
“Viouslybviamente, the contract is what it is. Introducing myself to this team is something I’ve been doing since day one. Being approachable. Yes, it’s frustrating. It makes you angry.”
Newton plays with a one-year deal with a minimum base salary of $ 1.05 million. The contract includes incentives and bonuses that will ultimately increase in value by approximately $ 2.6 million.
On Monday night against the Bills, he finished the 5 of 10 going 34 yards, while adding four rushing for 24 yards, which included a 9-yard touchdown in a fighting game.
Coach Bill Belichick took it out with 8 minutes left, remaining 21 seconds in the third quarter, with the Bills after 31-9.
“Cam did a good job for us. I mean, that wasn’t the problem,” Belichick said of the decision to turn to sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham. “We weren’t very competitive in the game.”
To be fair to Newton, he launched a perfect attack on the field to receiver Damiere Byrd in the first unit of the game that Byrd dropped. The play highlighted how the Patriots ’problems go far beyond Newton himself, as his receivers and tight ends have been among the least productive in the NFL this season.
But Newton also acknowledged that he can also play better.
“It’s extremely frustrating, knowing what you’re capable of, believing in yourself. It just doesn’t show when you count anymore,” he said.
Belichick said he has not decided his quarterback plans for the end of the season Sunday against the New York Jets visitors.
On Belichick’s support up to this point, Newton said: “The feeling is mutual. I will continue to improve each week, feeling more comfortable in this offense for the last week I can. Let’s see where it takes me.”
But his frustration was palpable on Monday night.
“It makes you angry to know that to be a trusted teammate you first have to submit to authority and submit to what the coaches ask of you. I feel like I did it. I’m not in the place of guilt. I Right now I’m more or less ventilated because yes, I’ve sacrificed a lot this year, ”he said.
“I mean, it hurts when you have the outing you have tonight, just to go home and then start it again for a whole week.”