Overthinking Cam Newton in New England

There has been much discussion about Cam Newton in New England. Here are some reasons why people are overthinking it.

Some sports movies get it right.

One sports movie that I would put in that category, and that I will be sure to stop and watch if I come across it while flipping channels, is Tin Cup. Starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo, Tin Cup tells the story of Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy, played by Costner, a once-promising collegiate golfer who is down on his luck, making his way as a driving range pro in western Texas.

After crossing paths with David Simms, his former college teammate who is now a successful golfer on the pro tour, McAvoy decides to qualify for the U.S. Open. It will be his quest. With some twists and turns along the way, he achieves his goal, and suddenly he is at one of the tour’s premier events, for his first practice session.

And he cannot hit the ball to save his life.

He’s sending grounders sixty yards in various directions. In the words of his caddy Romeo Posar, played by the incredible Cheech Marin, he’s “shooting them chili peppers up Lee Janzen’s ass.” So when McAvoy looks for advice on fixing his swing while at the range, Posar has him move change around to different pockets, turn his visor around, and stick his tee behind his ear, among other things.

McAvoy is frustrated, but listens. He hits his next shot completely pure, and has no idea why.

He did it, because as Posar reminds him, he isn’t overthinking things anymore. He’s not in his head. He’s just swinging a club as he has done so many times before.

At this point you – and my editors – are probably wondering where I am going with this, as this is supposedly an article about Cam Newton and the New England Patriots. So here it is: There is a lot of overthinking going on with this potential marriage.

There might be a discussion to be had about Newton’s potential schematic fit in New England, although I would posit much of that is overblown as well, and so would Doug Farrar, who has outlined Newton’s ability to operate in New England’s offense on multiple occasions. But in recent days another discussion has bubbled to the surface, perhaps instigated by some radio hosts in the Boston area. A discussion about culture, and character.

This discussion is, for lack of a better word, absurd.

Does one really think that Bill Belichick, he of the multiple Super Bowl titles, will have a problem if Newton scores a touchdown and dabs? Or does the Superman celebration? Or hands the football to a child sitting in the stands, thereby making that child’s day, or week, or year? Really? The coach who saw Rob Gronkowksi turn end zones into his own version of Whack-A-Mole with every touchdown spike?

Does one really think that Belichick has a problem with his players celebrating? If one still does, then they should watch this video clip, unearthed by Steven Ruiz of For the Win:

…[t]here’s nothing wrong, in fact you should be excited, when you make a play. Hell look at all the work that you’ve put into it. all the time that you’ve spent in practice of putting into it, and then to go out there into a game competitively and execute it well and make a play, you should be excited about it. And your teammates should be excited too.

Belichick then excoriates his team for, well, not celebrating, and the clip finishes with footage of the Patriots celebrating as a team against the Denver Broncos from a Monday night game the season prior, after at touchdown. Then the coach shows an image of Champ Bailey, on the Broncos’ sideline, helmet off, looking at the scoreboard. “That’s what intimidation is. That’s the look right there fellas, it’s gonna be a long night.”

The culture in New England is about winning, and the character that counts is whether you can get the Patriots closer to that goal. You think Belichick might have a problem with Newton’s celebrations? The coach might only have a problem with them if his new quarterback doesn’t celebrate after a big play.

In last year’s regular season, the Patriots had a late-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs. A rematch of a thrilling AFC Championship Game from the season prior. They trailed late by seven, and faced a do-or-die fourth down. Then, this happened:

Tom Brady 17 yard scrambles occur with the frequency of Halley’s Comet, but this one kept the Patriots alive. How did the veteran passer react?

What about his coach, though? The one who stresses “doing your job” and the “Patriot Way?” The coach who might have a problem with this, given that the Patriots were losing at the time. The coach who might have a problem with celebrations from Newton this season?

Well:

I do not recall any discussions on Boston sports radio the next day about Brady’s lack of character…if there was, it was likely more of the “he was so fired up, trying to will his team to a victory” type.

The culture is about winning, and character is what you can do to get closer to that goal.

The other overthinking that is taking place involved Newton’s fit in the offense. This is another area that has been covered by others, who have highlighted how Belichick and Josh McDaniels almost reinvented the Patriots’ offense on a short week to get Jacoby Brissett ready to play the Houston Texans, or how the New England offense can look different from week to week. But this ignores agency on the part of their new quarterback.

It ignores the fact that Newton is one of the game’s most knowledgeable and intelligent minds at the position.

We all remember this moment, right?

For a better example, watch this clip of a soliloquy from Newton, talking about the pre-snap phase of the play:

Steven highlighted this video to illustrate Newton’s charisma – which is indeed off the charts – but also listen to this video and think about the though process at play here. Newton walks you through what happens in just 12 to 15 seconds before the ball is snapped, talking about safety rotations, calling audibles, checking against blitzes, and more.

Do you really think this player will struggle in a new offense?

Will there be a learning curve? Sure. Will Newton pick it up? Yes.

And when he learns that process, and when he does all that before a play, and throws a touchdown, will Belichick really have a problem if he then dabs? Or asks for the ball back from Julian Edelman to give it to a child in the front row of Gillette Stadium?

Come on.