FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Cam Newton mostly got a positive chord in his first year with the New England Patriots, but after another frustrating performance in which he was pulled in the middle of the third quarter of an explosive loss at the Buffalo Bills, it aired. .
Newton was asked about a schedule on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” show that he woke up every day at 4:20 in the morning, left the house at 4:30 and did not retire for the night until 23:30.
“This has been my schedule for 90% of the time I’ve been here, so you can somehow understand the frustration I have when I don’t have the result, because I sacrifice so much. You’re talking to someone who hasn’t seen their children in three months, “Newton said.
“Obviously, the contract is what it is. Introducing myself to this team is something I’ve been doing since day one. Being accessible. Yes, it’s frustrating. It drives you crazy.”
Newton is playing a one-year contract with a minimum base salary of $ 1.05 million. The contract includes incentives and bonuses that will eventually increase its value by about $ 2.6 million.
On Monday night against Bills, he finished the pass 5 of 10 for 34 yards, while adding four hurdles for 24 yards, which included a 9-yard touchdown on a fighting game.
Coach Bill Belichick shot it with 8 minutes left in the third quarter, with Bills leading 31-9.
“He kind of did a good job for us. I mean, that wasn’t the problem,” Belichick said of the decision to call up defender Jarrett Stidham. “We weren’t very competitive in the game.”
In fairness to Newton, he threw a perfect field goal to receiver Damiere Byrd in the first unit of the game that Byrd gave up. The play highlighted how the Patriots’ problems go far beyond Newton himself, as receivers and tight ends have been among the least productive in the NFL this season.
But Newton also acknowledged that he can play even better.
“It’s extremely frustrating to know what you’re capable of, to believe in yourself. It doesn’t just show when it matters the most,” he said.
Belichick said he did not decide his defender plans for Sunday in the season finale against the New York Jets.
On Belichick’s support at this point, Newton said: “The feeling is mutual. I will improve every week, I will feel more comfortable in this crime in the last week I can. Let’s see where it takes me. “
But his frustration was palpable late Monday night.
“It annoys you to know that in order to be a reliable teammate you must first submit to authority and obey what the coaches ask you to do. I feel like I did that. I’m not at fault. I’m more or less airy now, because, yes, I’ve sacrificed so much this year, “he said.
“I mean, it hurts when you have the outing you have tonight, just to get home, then start it again in a week.”