New England Patriots - NESN.com
Cam Newton isn’t backing down from his New England Patriots skepticism.
The former Patriots quarterback received attention for calling New England “fool’s gold” on ESPN’s “First Take” last Friday. Newton cited the team’s favorable schedule to claim that the team has “one-and-done written all over it” this postseason.
Those comments have permeated across the sports news cycle this week, and Drake Maye’s dismissive response appeared to strike a nerve when the debate show rehashed the topic.
During Thursday’s “First Take” at Bethune-Cookman University, Newton insinuated that his comments got taken out of context before doubling down on his original declaration.
“I did say the Patriots are fool’s gold, and I’m going to stand on that,” Newton said.
Newton explained why he anticipates an early playoff exit for the Patriots, who could face the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens in the first round.
“It was a question I was asked: Does the AFC now go through the Patriots? I said fool’s gold,” Newton said. “Why did I say fool’s gold? Because there’s not a soul in this beautiful gymnasium that would say they would take Drake Maye over a wild-card winner in Patrick Mahomes. In Lamar Jackson.”
Maye, who grew up idolizing the former Carolina Panthers star, said he didn’t know which show Newton made those comments on. He’s only worried about voices within the Patriots organization.
Stephen A. Smith called the 23-year-old a “liar” for daring not to spend his days monitoring ESPN programming. Newton, meanwhile, questioned Maye’s legitimacy as a top-tier quarterback.
“Drake Maye, respectfully, you’re having a great season,” Newton said. “But I also put Drake Maye in the position where it’s like, ‘Yo, we don’t really know.'”
The Patriots will push all the outside noise aside and focus on their Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
