Something still doesn’t sit right with Cam Newton following the COVID “misunderstanding” that preceded the New England Patriots’ third preseason game.
In a tell-all video that dropped Friday morning on YouTube, the 32-year-old went into depth about his release from the team. He gave his side of the story and revealed the reasons he believes he’s no longer with the organization.
In the video, he discussed the COVID situation with an entirely different story than the public was presented with. Newton had to miss five days due to protocols and the Patriots released a statement about his absence.
“On Saturday, Cam Newton traveled to a club-approved medical appointment that required him to leave the New England area,” the statement read. “He received daily COVID tests, which were all negative. Due to a misunderstanding about tests conducted away from NFL facilities, and as required by the NFL-NFLPA protocols, Cam will be subject to the five-day entry cadence process before returning to the facility. Cam will continue participating virtually in team activities and return to the club facility on Thursday, August 26.”
Newton’s story has a much different twist on it.
“Let’s go backwards to being away from the team for those five days: They gave me clearance to go,” Newton said, transcribed by WEEI. “So, I don’t want nobody to think they I just went. I’m owed a second opinion. That’s just a fact. The trip was necessary because this was the last time I felt that I was going to have an opportunity to get a second opinion.
Not to say the personnel with the Patriots wasn’t coherent to telling me everything I needed to know, but having four eyes on it is better than having two eyes on it — in my opinion. It wasn’t that I was having any issues or pain, I just wanted to do a check-up with in essence the person who diagnosed me with the Lisfranc. I felt obligated to check back in with like a six-month review, or …
“I crossed all the lines. I checked all the boxes. I dotted all my I’s and then to find out that I had to sit out, that’s when I kind of felt bamboozled because I’m like, ‘Y’all told me to go.’ It wasn’t like, ‘Cam, you know if you go you’re taking your own risk now.’ It was not that.”
Whether or not it was a ploy to elevate Mac Jones is unknown, but Newton likely believes that’s a possibility.
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