Cam Newton and Bill Belichick may seem like a strange combination due to their different personalities but Marshall Newhouse, who played with both, shared a story about Newton’s stellar work ethic that shows just why the two could be successful.
This had to be important for Belichick, who will need Newton to try and learn the offense in a season like one we’ve never seen before and may only have the quarterback for a single season.
Newhouse spoke to Sirius XM NFL’s “Late Hits” program about Newton and the Patriots, saying:
“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.”
“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.”
If Newton continues to put in this work ethic, it won’t be hard for him to win over the Patriots offense and make him the frontrunner to be their starting quarterback in 2020.