2020 Pats: You Cam Go Your Own Way

Marciano490

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I’m glad the letters have as many cool hats as Cam. I’m psyched to pretend this season is going to happen. I really like Newton, and not just for the Auburn connection.
 

Ferm Sheller

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John Smith likely the greatest #1 in team history, other than Pat
I was under the impression that #1 was retired for Smith. Not sure why I thought that. Maybe because it hasn’t been worn in a long time. In fact, off the top of my head, I don’t recall anyone wearing it since Tony Franklin.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Unless someone wore it for a very short time, that’s what I thought. Which is why I figured it was retired for Smith.
 

Kliq

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I'm excited about the ceiling for Cam on the Patriots, but I kind of feel like people are going overboard. Mina Kimes was on Simmons' podcast last week just gushing about Cam, how he makes the Patriots the most interesting team in the league, etc. I just don't see it. If vintage running/throwing Cam is out there then yes, but there is a reason teams didn't want to give him a lot of guaranteed money and he was available this late in the game.

I see a QB who struggles to complete 60% of his passes and misses open receivers, coming off substantial surgery and may not be the dynamic runner that he was when he was younger, which significantly lowers his ceiling. I hope I'm wrong but the Cam hype seems a little overboard right now. This feels like McNabb going to Washington, Duante Culpepper in Miami, Favre on the Jets, etc.
 

Captaincoop

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I'm excited about the ceiling for Cam on the Patriots, but I kind of feel like people are going overboard. Mina Kimes was on Simmons' podcast last week just gushing about Cam, how he makes the Patriots the most interesting team in the league, etc. I just don't see it. If vintage running/throwing Cam is out there then yes, but there is a reason teams didn't want to give him a lot of guaranteed money and he was available this late in the game.

I see a QB who struggles to complete 60% of his passes and misses open receivers, coming off substantial surgery and may not be the dynamic runner that he was when he was younger, which significantly lowers his ceiling. I hope I'm wrong but the Cam hype seems a little overboard right now. This feels like McNabb going to Washington, Duante Culpepper in Miami, Favre on the Jets, etc.
The higher expectations are because he's coming to a coaching staff that has won multiple Super Bowls, and not to the Jets, Dolphins, or Redskins.

I haven't heard anyone going all in on the bet that he's going to be MVP Newton again, but a guy with his skillset, coming off injuries and into a smart and creative offensive system - the upside is really exciting.
 

Kliq

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Mike Shanahan was the coach of Washington with McNabb, so that was also a coaching staff with multiple SBs.
McNabb’s career numbers are also fairly similar to Cam’s. Newton was a slightly more dangerous runner, especially around the goal line, but McNabb a better passer (especially if you adjust to era, albeit he played for Reid).

I think part of my trepidation with Cam is that I’m not sure how could Newton is if he is like, 80% there physically. His completion percentage, subpar mechanics and reptuation of being not the most analytical of QBs, causes me to think that he really needs to be that dynamic mobile weapon to be a good QB in the NFL.
 

IdiotKicker

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I haven't heard anyone going all in on the bet that he's going to be MVP Newton again
I’ll say it - I think he’s going to be MVP Newton again. Maybe it’s irrational hope, maybe it’s just wanting to move on from Brady and believe that there’s a future here, maybe I’ve just gotten sucked into the Twitter hype videos, but I think we’re getting MVP Newton. I have nothing at all to back this up, but I’m all-in on Cam.
 

RorschachsMask

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Yeah, I also will join the group who says we get a borderline MVP level type of season out of him....if he’s healthy of course.
 

BusRaker

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Not sure if this was mentioned upstream (only read about half of the posts) but I think we might see a lot of both during the beginning of the season. Big downside of course is splitting practice up / timing with the receivers. Upsides are Cam injury insurance and forcing defenses to have to prepare for two rather different QBs. Then there's NFL history about two quarterback systems and usually complete failure ...
 

Captaincoop

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Mike Shanahan was the coach of Washington with McNabb, so that was also a coaching staff with multiple SBs.
I guess that's technically true, but it had been over a decade since Shanahan won anything at that point and he was taking over a new team with a 34-year-old McNabb. I feel comfortable being more excited here with Cam joining Belichick and McDaniel.
 

CantKeepmedown

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I won't allow myself to get too excited. I'm not sure why. But the guy exudes confidence and seems hellbent on proving everyone wrong. Maybe, just maybe with Josh and BB at the helm, we can see a return to his greatness.
 

sodenj5

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I won't allow myself to get too excited. I'm not sure why. But the guy exudes confidence and seems hellbent on proving everyone wrong. Maybe, just maybe with Josh and BB at the helm, we can see a return to his greatness.
Motivated Cam Newton is a bad dude. Not saying he wasn’t motivated the last few years, but if he’s healthy and mad, he’s going to have himself a year.
 

Old Fart Tree

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Not to counterbalance all the optimism, but I think he's toast, in part because his brain has been scrambled by the NFL referees basically allowing teams to hit him with lead pipes and folding chairs without penalty for the last decade or so. BUT! I'd love to be proven wrong. Either way, it's going to be fun to watch.
 

reggiecleveland

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Not to counterbalance all the optimism, but I think he's toast, in part because his brain has been scrambled by the NFL referees basically allowing teams to hit him with lead pipes and folding chairs without penalty for the last decade or so. BUT! I'd love to be proven wrong. Either way, it's going to be fun to watch.
I hate the rain on the parade, etc, but I think you are right. This has the feel of fighter making a comeback, and most of thos go badly.
 

DourDoerr

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I don't think it's too much of a stretch for Kimes to say the Pats are the most interesting team in the league. I agree with her and it's only close because of Tampa Bay's moves. There's been a historic break within a dynasty that was still operating at near-peak power. The two pillars of that dynasty - BB and TB - have split and the decades of speculation on who is most responsible for that dynasty will suddenly be given light and oxygen. Inject a charismatic former MVP QB into the mix and the unknowns are almost too numerous to count. I'm curious as hell to see this post-Brady team. It's just a biting change-up to 20 years of high 90's heat.
 

BigJimEd

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Not to counterbalance all the optimism, but I think he's toast, in part because his brain has been scrambled by the NFL referees basically allowing teams to hit him with lead pipes and folding chairs without penalty for the last decade or so. BUT! I'd love to be proven wrong. Either way, it's going to be fun to watch.
What makes you say his brain is scrambled? Are there reports? Is it the way he's speaks in interview? behavioral changes? Evidence that he has had trouble reading defenses recently? I'm legitimately curious as I haven't really heard this before. Concerns about his physical well being and athleticism, sure but I have not heard questions about his mental status.
 

Old Fart Tree

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Leaving apart the bit about the refs on which contradictory info has been posted in this thread, what makes you say his brain is scrambled? Are there reports? Is it the way he's speaks in interview? behavioral changes? Evidence that he has had trouble reading defenses recently? I'm legitimately curious as I haven't really heard this before. Concerns about his physical well being and athleticism, sure but I have not heard questions about his mental status.
Honestly, I shouldn't have been so blithe about it; in writing, I really meant his overall (ie, not brain-focused) physical well-being given the importance (historically anyway) of mobility to his game, and conflated that with my recollections of certain high profile situations where refs seemed to let pass rushers seemingly concuss him at will. To clarify, I have no evidence of cognitive or behavioral impairment due to concussions (or anything else). It was a lazy shorthand for 'a lot of tread on those tires' so I apologize for the lack of specificity.
 

BigJimEd

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Thanks for clarification. Cam has taken a lot of hits over his career so I would not be shocked if there were some effect there.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I hate the rain on the parade, etc, but I think you are right. This has the feel of fighter making a comeback, and most of thos go badly.
Yeah, I've come around on it; I didn't like it at first, but drank the Kool Aid eventually. I'm excited that if we have a season, we'll be more competitive than I thought, but there's no way in hell he comes close to MVP level Cam, imo. I'd have been perfectly fine taking a step back for a year and letting Stidham sink or swim, but as it is, that's probably what ends up happening anyway because I don't see any possible chance of playing a full season. So maybe the few games we get are more fun now.