The New England Patriots have signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal, and NFL analyst Chris Simms is a big fan of the acquisition.
So his father.
“I probably like it more than him,” NFL on CBS analyst Phil Simms said on Tiki & Tierney. “I think it’s a really good fit. Think about what the Patriots are: they’re really a run team, a screen team, throw-it-to-the-back team, and every once in a while, let’s take some shots. Now does that sound like it fits Cam Newton? Cam Newton is going to sit there and go, ‘Wow, there’s about 15 completions I’m going to hit every game, and I don’t have to do anything.’”
That should be a welcome change for the 31-year-old Newton, who was released in March. He spent nine seasons in Carolina, completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 29,041 yards, 182 touchdowns and 108 interceptions. He also ran for 4,806 yards and a quarterback-record 58 touchdowns.
“Talent, he has it,” Simms said. “He has a really strong arm; he spins the ball, it’s easy to catch; he has great size; and of course he’s got experience and then the mobility. He won’t be asked to run the ball like he did in Carolina. So he’s going into a team that relies on their power game and run game and all the other stuff that we talk about, the deception, and then it’s about their defense and especially their defensive secondary, which is still without question the best one in the NFL.”
While Newton, assuming health, might have the physical gifts, what about everything else? He is known for his flashy play – and even flashier celebrations. How will that play in New England?
“I have no doubt he’s going to adapt to all these things,” Simms said. “Who has not adapted to the Patriot Way after they go up there? They all do. Everybody does. And a lot of them love it because of the structure and the demands are so strong. [They] coach everybody hard.”
As Simms pointed out, Newton’s outspoken personality is an asset, not a detriment.
“His personality, it’s not a negative. It’s a positive,” Simms said. “He’s going to be on the practice field, he’s always got energy, he’s going to walk through the locker room – you got to have two or three guys to keep the locker room alive. Bill Belichick, we’ve had many discussions about that: getting that two or three that go in and can keep it stirred up. Cam is a lightning rod, but I think he has the ability to be a really good leader, and I believe people follow him when he gets it going.”