Cam Newton has been consistent in avoiding questions about whether he’ll remain with the New England Patriots in 2021. He had more of those elusive answers on Monday morning after a Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans.
During an appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” Newton was asked whether he has interest in being a Patriot in 2021.
“Man, I have interest in winning the Arizona Cardinals game. How about that?” he asked rhetorically.
The likelihood of him sticking in New England has certainly fluctuated over the course of this season. Newton is playing efficiently, but he’s not exactly wowing in the Patriots’ conservative offensive system. Much like his free agency market was soft in 2020, Newton could face a shortage of interest in 2021. So while the Patriots may actually be the best landing spot for him next year, he’s not making any firm statements about his intentions.
Does Cam Newton have interest in being a Patriot in 2021?
Newton (on @TheGregHillShow): “Man, I have interest in winning the Arizona Cardinals game. How about that?"
Said he's focused on the short term, not the long term.
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) November 23, 2020
Newton’s one-year deal with the Patriots expires this offseason. When he signed the contract, Newton said his deal with New England wasn’t about money; it was about respect. So the Patriots gave him an opportunity to show he can be an NFL starter again after the Carolina Panthers cut him this offseason.
While New England was strapped for cash in 2020, it has much more cap space to sign free agents in 2021. The Patriots’ proceedings with Newton should be interesting, especially as their draft position puts them in a good spot to pick a quarterback in the first round, if they want a rookie to take over as the franchise quarterback. Newton’s position with New England is tenuous.
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