New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton shared his disappointment in the team’s latest loss against the Buffalo Bills.
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“I gotta protect the ball better. I know that has just been kind of like a broken record of late,” Newton said according to ESPN.
A fumble in the fourth quarter resulted in the Bills 24-21 victory over the Patriots. The dropped ball lost the team the chance to tie the game with a 3-point field goal. According to ESPN, Newton lost the ball at the hands of Bills defensive tackle Justin Zimmerman. The game-making play occurred with only 31 seconds on the clock.
“I am still jeopardizing this team’s success because of my lackluster performance of protecting the football. Coach trusts me with the ball in his hand and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I just have to do a better job protecting it,” Newton said at the post-game press conference. “It’s extremely frustrating, but this league is not what have you done for us, but what have you done lately? I understand this is a production-based league.”
“Coach preaches each and every day to protect the football, play smart football. I’m converting to it. Outside of this last play, I think that is what makes it so frustrating, being that you are trying extremely hard. When you don’t get the results you want, then what do you do?” Newton said, according to ESPN.
Earlier in the season, Newton tested positive for coronavirus, forcing the league to postpone a scheduled matchup against the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. theGrio reported members of the Chiefs organization had also tested positive for COVID-19, although they remained unnamed. The Washington Post reported Newton was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 3 and the diagnosis caused him to miss one game. He was activated from the coronavirus injury list on Oct.14.
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“Nobody is feeling sorry for me, and I’m not feeling sorry for myself. I just have to be better and play 60 minutes of premium football.”
Newton, the former star quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, took them to Super Bowl 50 in 2016, ultimately losing to the Denver Broncos. Injuries to his shoulder and foot limited his games and effectiveness over the last two seasons. Newton was picked up after his controversial release from the Panthers for a one-year contract with the Patriots. Their star quarterback, Tom Brady, left to go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after 20 seasons and six rings with the Pats.
The Patriots under Newton are 2-5 this season while the Bucs are 5-2. The Panthers meet the 0-8 New York Jets on Monday Night Football next week.
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