So, Cam Newton is reportedly going to be a New England Patriot.
I know how funny that sounds. From the outside looking in, it seems like a forced marriage. Like Newton and Bill Belichick are an odd couple.
Quarterbacks and head coaches have to be on the same page. Think Sean Payton and Drew Brees. Or for a while Belichick and Tom Brady before egos and power struggles got in the way.
Newton and Belichick seem to be polar opposites. The way they handle the media and the way they dress, for example, could not be more different. They don’t really have much in common – except for the things that matter: they are both winners and they both love to win by running the football and breaking an opponent’s will physically.
If Newton isn’t broken himself physically, this is a match made in heaven. Here’s why.
Why the Patriots are a perfect fit for Newton
In New England, Newton will have the opportunity and ability to run the ball even more effectively than he did in Carolina. And that ability could unlock the Patriots offence in ways Brady never could.
While the infamously immobile Brady rushed for a little over 1,000 yards his entire Patriots career, Newton had more than that a year-and-a-half into his NFL career and has rushed for 4,806 yards since 2011, the most among quarterbacks.
In New England, Newton will have at his disposal running backs Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead. That’s the deepest and most versatile backfield Newton has ever played with, and he makes those runners better just as they do the same for him.
Newton’s running ability and that stable of running backs gives the Patriots an opportunity to use offences they couldn’t under Brady. For example, since Newton entered the league in 2011, the Panthers ran 815 zone-read plays with Newton on the field. The Patriots have only had eight zone-read snaps in that time span, the fewest in the league.
Nobody ever accounted for Brady in the run game, but opposing teams will now have to account for Newton’s rushing threat as he’s been the best running back on any team he’s ever been on. Opponents will have to respect that by bringing an extra player close to the line of scrimmage to defend the run, meaning more 1-on-1 opportunities on the outside for the Patriots’ skill players who struggle to separate and need any advantage they can get.
As much as Newton is a replacement for Brady, he is really a replacement for Rob Gronkowski — someone on the offence who demands so much attention because of their physical nature that they make life easier for everyone else.
Newton will also have the benefit of great play-calling. When he had an effective offensive coordinator designing run-pass options for him in 2018, Newton completed a career-high 67.9 per cent of his passes. Expect the same in New England with Josh McDaniels in his ear calling plays.
New England already has a great defence and a good running game that just got better with the reported addition of Newton. The new-look Patriots are going to be a more sophisticated, more experienced version of the Baltimore Ravens. Their defence is bigger and better than the Ravens’, and now they have a quarterback who is more experienced, bigger, a better thrower of the football and more rested than the reigning MVP, Lamar Jackson.
If Newton plays well and wins, he either earns a more lucrative contract from the Patriots when they have more cap space in a year or he reimagines his branding for the rest of the league, who would be willing to take a shot on him after he produced while doing things “the Patriot way.”
Why Newton is the perfect fit for the Patriots
Once the addition of the 2015 MVP and 2011 offensive rookie of the year becomes official, the Patriots can become the first team in NFL history to both lose and add an MVP in a single off-season.
Belichick, who is 0-2 against Newton, has long been a fan of the 2011 No. 1 pick. Newton, a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion with Auburn, where he gave Belichick disciple Nick Saban fits at Alabama, is a proven winner and Belichick loves to accrue players who have shown the ability to win on multiple levels.
In 2017, Belichick praised Newton in comparison to the other dual-threat quarterbacks in the league: “I would put him at the top of the list. Not saying the other guys aren’t a problem because they are but he’d be public enemy No. 1.”
Newton’s numbers back up Belichick’s praise.
Newton put up 182 passing touchdowns and 58 rushing touchdowns in nine seasons with the Panthers and has had 39 career games with a passing and rushing touchdown, an NFL record.
Newton accounted for 240 touchdowns from 2011-18. Only three quarterbacks accounted for more: Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Brady. During that period, Newton rushed for more scores than Marshawn Lynch. When healthy, Newton has racked up insane offensive production with his unique skill set — something the Patriots have the ability to adapt around.
And that production level is the opposite of New England’s in-house options: sophomore Jarrett Stidham has just four career pass attempts, while Brian Hoyer is the only other quarterback currently on the Patriots roster to start a game in the NFL.
But not only is Newton a better option than what the Patriots have internally, he’s more reliable than the quarterbacks New England has to beat to continue its AFC East dominance.
Entering his 10th season, Newton is 71-59-1 as a starting quarterback. Buffalo has Josh Allen, who is about to kick off his third season and is 15-13 as a starting QB; the Jets’ Sam Darnold is also entering his third season and has a 11-15 record as a starter; and the Dolphins have 15-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is 55-83-1 as a starting QB, and Tua Tagovailoa, who is a rookie coming off a major injury.
New England has won the AFC title 11 straight years, and Newton was the best option to make it 12 in the absence of No. 12.
And if Newton’s not a fit, no big deal. He’s reportedly joining New England on a one-year, incentive-laden deal. Newton’s base pay is reportedly just over $1 million and he could max out at $7.5 million. If he gets to camp and isn’t healthy, the Patriots can cut him. They have no commitments past this season.
The Patriots will reportedly be paying Newton $14 million less than Indianapolis Colts backup Jacoby Brissett will make this year. Basically, if Newton hits on all of his incentives, he’ll get paid what the Chargers are paying Tyrod Taylor.
Belichick loves good value at any position, and Newton’s short-term deal provides just that.
The only reason it won’t be a fit is if Newton’s not fit
Newton still hasn’t taken a physical for the Patriots and, because of COVID-19, we aren’t sure when he’ll be able to. His last physical was on March 23 by an independent doctor in Atlanta to prove his health, and Newton passed that physical before being released by the Panthers the next day.
But Newton’s history of injuries is well-documented and his style of play has taken its toll. Newton has taken contact on 1,235 plays since 2011, the most among quarterbacks, and has dealt with shoulder, back and foot injuries – among others – throughout his career.
Newton turned 31 in May, and that type of attrition on the body is why you see a lot of young running quarterbacks but not many veteran ones.
Those injuries had an impact on Newton’s game over the last two seasons. He has a 34.3 total QBR since Week 10 of 2018 and is 0-8 as a starter in that span. That’s the second-worst over that period, ahead of only Josh Rosen. Not only is he 0-8 in his last eight starts, he has nine passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions in those games. Much of that, though, was a byproduct of being on a bad team and not trusting his body to make plays. Neither should be an issue in New England.
Making the move to New England may work out for Newton like it did for Randy Moss, Corey Dillon and Aqib Talib, or it might not, like with Albert Haynesworth, Antonio Brown and Chad Ochocinco.
But, for better or worse, Belichick and New England take chances on talent. Newton won’t be a distraction and the cultural fit isn’t an issue. The Patriots co-existed with Gronkowski, who was a walking reality show.
Talent is something Newton has never lacked. Now all he needs is an opportunity and to be healthy. He’s got the first one and the Patriots are a Super Bowl contender if he proves he has the second.
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Whitecaps will begin their post-season campaign with a play-in game against the Timbers in Portland on Wednesday.
The ‘Caps (13-13-8) ended the regular season with a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday and finished eighth in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference standings.
The eighth and ninth spots from each conference meet in a play-in game this week, with the winner going on to face the No. 1 seed in the first round of the playoffs.
Each eighth-place team was set to host the play-in game, but Vancouver announced Friday that its home stadium, B.C. Place, is not available, so the club will cede home-field advantage to Portland (12-11-11), the ninth-place team.
The ‘Caps and Timbers split their three-game series during regular-season play, with each side taking a win, a loss and a draw.
The first round of the MLS playoffs is set to begin next weekend.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2024.
SANDY, Utah (AP) — Diego Luna scored a tying goal in the 73rd minute and Real Salt Lake added another on an own goal for a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night to set a single-season club record for points.
Real Salt Lake (16-7-11) secured the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference and will face Minnesota in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs. RSL reached 59 points this season, topping the 2012 team with 57.
Vancouver (13-13-8) will play the Portland Timbers on Wednesday in a wild-card game for a chance to play top-seeded LAFC.
Luna settled a long cross from Braian Ojeda before taking four touches to slot home a shot inside the far post for his eighth goal of the season.
RSL went ahead in the 83rd when Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer misplayed a lofted ball that rolled into the back of the net.
Vancouver midfielder Ryan Gauld opened the scoring in the 58th to become the first player in club history to produce multiple seasons with at least 10 goals and 10 assists.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Juan Soto’s arrival last winter was supposed to be that move that pushed the New York Yankees back to the top.
They’re one step away.
Soto hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Yankees advanced to their 41st World Series — and first in 15 years — by beating the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday night.
Baseball’s biggest brand is going back to October’s main stage.
Soto, who was acquired in a seven-player trade from San Diego in December, pushed the Bronx Bombers into position with one big swing.
This was why he came, for this moment and for so many more.
“We’re right where we belong,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who pulled off the deal for Soto.
The Yankees will try to win their 28th title against either the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
In the third consecutive tight game in three nights at Progressive Field, Austin Wells walked with one out in the 10th and Alex Verdugo followed with a grounder to Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose soft toss to the bag was dropped by rookie shortstop Brayan Rocchio for an error.
Hunter Gaddis struck out Gleyber Torres and had Soto in a 1-2 count before New York’s stylish outfielder sent a shot over the wall in center. Soto danced down the first-base line and paused to celebrate with his teammates before circling the bases.
“I was just saying to myself, `You’re all over that guy. You’re all over that guy. He ain’t got anything,’” said Soto, who moved alongside his manager, Aaron Boone, as the only New York players to homer in an extra-inning, series-clinching win.
Luke Weaver got the final three outs with Lane Thomas flying out for the last one, which was caught by Soto.
“We get to play for a world championship,” Boone said. “That’s pretty sweet.”
The 25-year-old Soto is eligible for free agency this winter, and Yankees fans chanted “Re-sign Soto!” during the postgame festivities. He’s expected to get a contract upwards of $600 million, and his heroics in Game 5 may have raised his price.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and was named ALCS MVP as the Yankees took care of the Guardians in five games. It wasn’t easy.
New York won the first two at Yankee Stadium without much fanfare or any major drama. However, it was a different story in Cleveland as all three games at Progressive Field were nail-biters.
The Guardians rallied to win Game 3 on two, two-run homers in their last two at-bats, and the Yankees held on to win Game 4 after blowing a four-run lead.
“This was a rollercoaster and we were able to just keep punching back,” Stanton said. “We know there’s much more work to do and it’s only uphill from here and we got to get it done.”
Cleveland just didn’t have enough and a surprising season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt ended just short of a World Series. The franchise remains without a title since 1948, baseball’s current longest drought.
“There’s only one team that gets to win the last game of the year, and unfortunately it’s not going to be us,” Vogt said. “But we accomplished a lot as a group. We got better. We worked extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. We just didn’t get quite as far as we wanted to.”
The Yankees are back in the World Series, back where their fans expect them to be every year.
The club’s 82-80, fourth-place finish in the AL East last season led to some “soul searching as an organization” during the winter, according to Boone, who has been widely criticized but is one of just three managers to take New York to playoffs in six of his first seven seasons.
While the team’s core stayed mostly intact, getting Soto in a blockbuster trade on Dec. 7 — New York sent five players to San Diego for the three-time All-Star — accelerated the team returning to title contender.
“That was a good day,” Boone said with a laugh before the game.
Stanton’s 446-foot rocket into the left-field bleachers tied it at 2 in the sixth and chased Tanner Bibee, who had struck out New York’s dangerous DH in his first two at-bats and held the Yankees scoreless for the first five innings.
It was Stanton’s fourth homer in this series — his third in three days — and his 16th in the postseason, moving him into fourth place on the club’s career list behind Bernie Williams (22), Derek Jeter (20) and Mickey Mantle (18).
Before the game, Boone was asked what makes Stanton so good.
“He can hit it harder than anyone, first of all,” Boone said. “So there’s the physical nature of what he does that’s different than just about everyone in the world.”
But Boone went on to compliment Stanton’s discipline at the plate, “his approach, his process, how he studies guys.”
“There’s something that he does when he gets familiarity with people on top of being very physically gifted,” Boone said.
The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the fifth off Carlos Rodón on Steven Kwan’s RBI single with two outs. But Cleveland missed a big chance for more, leaving the bases loaded when Lane Thomas grounded out on the first pitch to him from Mark Leiter Jr.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: LHP Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) had another successful live batting practice session. The reliever remains on track to join the Yankees on their World Series roster. Boone said Cortes would throw again early next week. Cortes went 9-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 30 starts.
