Journeyman tackle Marshall Newhouse spent the 2019 season with the New England Patriots. The year prior, he spent half the season with the Carolina Panthers under Cam Newton’s command.
Newhouse understands both programs thoroughly, but more importantly, he understands how they’ve worked in the past couple years. He understands what the Patriots lost with Tom Brady and how Bill Belichick will maneuver with a new quarterback in the huddle.
Many questions have arisen about Newton’s strong personality and if it’ll work with the ‘Patriots Way.’ Brady, Rob Gronkowski and other players have flaunted strong personalities and it hasn’t been an issue. Newhouse joined Sirius XM NFL’s “Late Hits” last week and discussed the addition of Newton and how he’ll fit in New England.
“Some people who are just uncomfortable with a guy as strong in personality as Cam might see that as something that could cause friction, but people who are secure and understand what it takes to play in the NFL — both Bill Belichick and [offensive coordinator] Josh McDaniels as a staff and Cam Newton as a guy who has matured and competed and grown so much over the years — to those guys, none of this matters,” Newhouse said, transcribed by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
“When I was in Carolina, I was new, getting traded in the middle of the season, and my mornings started early, cramming the playbook. Lo and behold, Cam was there, hours before me, walking on the treadmill, studying his playbook. Same in the afternoon, with Luke Kuechly, studying, getting extra film work. So the work part is not a question. You can call it flamboyance, but he’s just got a strong personality. He’s a leader.
“But when has Bill Belichick ever shied away from that? We just assume they don’t mesh with that kind of thing, but in reality, there are strong personalities all over the locker room. Everybody just knows their role. I think Cam will get there, and they’ll kind of help him define what his role is, and he’ll adapt to that. Them not being able to get along is just a fallacy, in my opinion.”
The Patriots had second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer sitting atop the depth chart before Newton was signed. They haven’t announced a starter yet and Newton isn’t locked into that role just yet.
“Not sure what that will look like yet. I guarantee you don’t know, and we don’t know. That’s Bill’s M.O. He does what he feels is best at every moment in time,” Newhouse said.
“[Try to find] a way to make the Cam Newton thing work, but I wouldn’t shoo him in just yet, even though he’s got the ability. It’s all about health for him. They have a guy in Jarrett Stidham who I think they believe in. But he’s young and unproven. So there’s a lot of variables in play, with Cam not signing for what a normal quarterback of his caliber would get plays into that as well. [We’re] all going to find this out after they kind of figure things out within themselves.”
Health included, there will be many kinks to work out with the transition to New England’s next quarterback. Based off stories and endorsement from people around the league, it seems that Newton is fit for the role. Newhouse provides just another up-close example of why Newton is ready for the job.
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