Cam Newton has dealt with criticism all his life. Even at the peak of his athletic prowess five years ago, the former Auburn graduate was never given a fair assessment by the media. That largely boiled down to the fact that he was a controversial ‘sports personality’ off the football field.

His recent injury struggles have not made things easier for him. However, his new emergence as the first-choice quarterback for Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots can be the start of a new chapter in his life. Against popular opinion, Newton will start the season ahead of Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.

Here’s what the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback said about his short-term goals in 2020.

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Cam Newton is more than ecstatic with the role he has in New England

Cam Newton appeared on a recent WEEI radio interview. The former Carolina Panthers man spoke about his arrival in New England and his growing admiration towards Bill Belichick.

“I went down a list of things I expect from Bill Belichick, just like Bill Belichick went down a list of things he wants from Cam Newton. I think the narrative coming here was kind of stereotypical to an unjust eye, just to see like, ‘Well, we heard this about Cam, we heard that, we heard he’s a prima donna, he’s this and that.’

“When you really put a microscope to who I really am, there’s a lot of people, a lot of favoritism that has not been favorable for my benefit. But yet through it all, I’m not gonna make this about me… I want to make this about this team and just trying to gain these guys’ trust.

“Because I think that’s the biggest challenge with doing. Letting these guys understand, ‘Listen, I understand there has been a lot said, I understand.

“I can feel the eyes and attention that is on me as soon as I walk into the facility but at the end of the day, you guys gotta know a lot of that is BS and I’m here to remove all that,'” Newton said via NFL Network.

Newton also spoke in highly of new coach, Bill Belichick in an interview with Boston Globe.

“It’s been a match made in heaven for me, just knowing I am at a place where everything is pulling in the same direction and everything is geared towards winning,” Newton said.

The Patriots start the 2020 season against Miami Dolphins on September 13, 2020. Newton is the preferred quarterback for the Pats. Coach Belichick will hope that the former Heisman Trophy winner can step in and fill the void left in the wake of Tom Brady’s exit.

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