Cam Newton’s release from the New England Patriots was a shock to everyone — apparently he was included in that list.
Newton streamed a live YouTube video Friday morning that lasted 45 minutes long and he dove into the details behind his release. The 32-year-old was open and honest about the experience and admitted that even Bill Belichick felt uncomfortable when the decision was made.
Newton’s father, Cecil, interviewed him and asked if he was thrown off guard by the release.
“Did it catch me by surprise, being released? Absolutely,” Newton said, transcribed by NESN’s Zack Cox.
“I’ve been playing long enough to have got it remotely two years ago with the Panthers, but I never really got that call where, ‘Hey, come to the office,’ ” Newton said. “It was funny, as a matter of fact, to me. I’m laughing at it now. I walked in, and they were like, ‘Oh, hold up, Cam, Cam, Cam. Bill wants to meet with you.’ I’m like, ‘OK, cool.’ But Bill’s office is down here, and they were like, ‘No, he’s in here.’ And that’s when I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, I see what’s going on.’
“When it happened, we went through the meeting, Matt Patricia was there, Bill was there. We greeted each other, and we just started talking. At that time, they told me that they were going to give the reins to Mac, and I was like, ‘OK, cool.’ And it didn’t dawn on me. I was like, ‘Y’all releasing me?’ I was confused, because Bill was — we all were shocked. It was uncomfortable for everybody.”
Mac Jones won the job and Newton said he would’ve “absolutely” taken the backup role behind him. But, his “aura” would’ve been too much of a distraction, as Newton explains.
“Mac Jones didn’t beat me out,” Newton said. “But I would have been a distraction knowing that if they would have gave him the starting role, they knew the perception that it would have had if the success didn’t come as they were (expecting). …
“The reason that they released me was because indirectly, I was going to be a distraction without being the starter. … Just my aura. That’s my gift and my curse. When you bring a Cam Newton into your facility, when you bring a Cam Newton to your franchise, people are interested by mere factor of who is he. Why does he wear his hair, why does he talk, why does he act, why does he perform? All these questions. …
“So let me be honest with you. If they asked me, would I play behind — they say, ‘Cam, we’re going to give the team to Mac. You’re going to be the second string, and we expect you to be everything and some to guide him throughout this tenure.’ I would have said, ‘Absolutely.’ But listen, the truth of the matter is this: He would have been uncomfortable.”
He further explained how his game plan was “watered down” and he didn’t even have the opportunity to rush once in the preseason. He saw the signs coming and it all clicked following the release.
“But let me say this, too: I’m not bitter,” Newton said. “I don’t want anyone to think that I’m mad. It is business.”
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