Bill Belichick and the Patriots moved on from Cam Newton during final roster cuts before the 2021 season as rookie Mac Jones quickly emerged as the better fit for the offense.

Years later, Newton revisited that moment on his 4th&1 With Cam Newton podcast, where he discussed the day Belichick informed him of the decision.

"You guys may not have made me a better football player, but what I experienced with the 365 days or the short months that I've been a part of the Patriots organization, you definitely made me a better businessman," Newton said.

Newton talked about Belichick like he was “the head of a Fortune 500 company,” a leader with full say-so, total autonomy in his calls, and didn’t run into any pushback at all from inside the organization.

Belichick took an unconventional approach to coaching that ignored rigid positional boundaries. Quarterbacks got a pretty clear education around defensive ideas, kickers were drilled on footwork, and that kind of thing, and the film sessions included those highlight cuts, LB Lawrence Taylor, and QB John Elway.

Newton turned it into a personal challenge to get to work before Belichick each morning, only to discover the coach already sitting there at his desk with a yellow pencil and an iPad, going through film not just once but regularly.

Newton also recently praised Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford as one of the game's greatest.

Cam Newton Believes Matthew Stafford Belongs Among the Greats

Matthew Stafford finally got the recognition he deserved last season, winning the NFL MVP for the first time at 38 years old.  But Cam Newton believes Stafford belongs in an even bigger conversation.

"Matthew Stafford has the accolades to be the greatest quarterback ever. Top to bottom," Newton said on his 4th and 1 podcast, according to Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire.

"Not necessarily resume, but his arm talent and his skill. He's the last of a dying breed of pure pocket quarterbacks."

Newton was mainly pointing to Stafford’s comfort and control on the field. According to him, Stafford plays quickly, reacts faster than most quarterbacks, and still manages to stay calm while doing it, which is why he considers him the best in the league right now.

Newton highlighted Stafford's elite arm talent as the differentiator, even if his postseason resume does not yet match all-time greats like Tom Brady.

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Rudra Dubey