Don't Confuse Desperation With Desire

On March 25th of 2020,  the Carolina Panthers cut franchise quarterback Cam Newton. Newton was coming off back to back injury seasons. Ninety five days later it was clear nobody was interested in signing Cam Newton. And Bill Belichick gave Cam a low ball offer to continue his career. The contract was viewed as disrespectful by many and when the Patriots got cap space, many thought the Patriots would bump up Newton's pay. That didn't happen.

The Patriots would go 7-8 under Cam Newton. Newton would miss out on the week four game against the defending superbowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs and the league would prevent the Patriots from playing a game again until Newton was healthy, presumably to protect television ratings.

Over the 2020 season, Cam Newton threw only 8 touchdowns but threw 10 interceptions. Newton finishes 24th in yards and his 18th in completion percentage was due to how good his pass catchers actually were. It was visible on video and through analytics that his pass catchers got open.

Newton rushed for 12 touchdowns but the NFL is a what have you done with your arm lately type of league when it comes to quarterbacks. The league relies more on analytics than ever before. Newton had some bad analytical numbers for a quarterback. With some categories ranking in backup levels. 

On March 12th, 2021 days before free agency, there was reportedly little to no interest for Cam Newton around the league. Bill Belichick knowing this offered Cam Newton another low ball deal where Cam Newton accepted.

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There's a statement going around Patriots nation that Cam Newton wanted to be a Patriot. When he signed in 2020, did he really want to be a Patriot or did he want to play in the NFL? If Newton wanted to be a Patriot, why did he refer to it as a business trip in October of 2020?

In March of this year, did he want to play for the Patriots or play in the NFL? Newton could've held out for a more respectful deal from the Patriots and fielded offers but with the likelyhood of not getting an offer from another club, he ran the risk of making less money. Did Cam Newton want to play for the Patriots or did he take the best and most likely only offer he was going to get?

Cam Newton said in 2020 and repeated after he re-signed that he bet on himself. Once those words came out of his mouth, it wasn't desire to play with the Patriots that he had, if he ever had it. It was desperation to play with the Patriots because there wasn't another job offer coming for him and he knew it. Newton is looking to get paid and if he has one good season, he should get paid a decent salary.

Cam Newton is a Patriot and thus deserves respect from the fanbase to some degree, even if one doesn't like him. Especially compared to fan favorites who departed either for money or change of scenery but don't confuse the fact that he signed with the Patriots with wanting to play for the Patriots because people make sacrifices and do things they don't want to do all the time, to keep life styles they want. 

Newton's also smart enough to know what to say to keep from jeopardizing his career. He knows how to market himself. That's why his Patriots interviews fit the Patriots way.

I mean there are people who choose to shovel shit for a living, not because they enjoy it but because they like the lifestyle of having a roof over their heads and food in their stomach. Cam might be beyond having to worry about a roof over his head but he is still trying to provide a lifestyle for his family. And that is the difference between wanting to do something and needing to do something. 

Cam needed to sign with the Patriots to continue to prolong the lifestyle he wants for himself and his family, it's that simple. Could he want to play with the Patriots, it's possible but even if so given everything we know, it's only logical that it had little to no impact on him signing with the Patriots either time. After all playing for the Patriots at this point of his career is a "business triip."