New England Patriots
“I’m a Drake Maye fan. But Drake Maye, you still have to prove yourself in a situation where I do not think that the AFC goes through New England.”
Cam Newton isn’t changing his stance after saying the Patriots are “fool’s gold” amid their 9-2 start to the season.
Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday, Newton doubled down on his thoughts that an unproven Patriots team still has plenty to prove this season.
“Things can be taken out of perspective. Things can be taken out of context. Now I did say the Patriots are fool’s gold, and I’m gonna stand on that,” Newton said. “I was referring to the fact that it was a question that was asked, ‘Does the AFC now go through the Patriots, or New England?’ I said, ‘fool’s gold.’ Why did I say ‘fool’s gold’?
“Because there’s not a soul in this beautiful gymnasium that will say they will take Drake Maye over a wild card winner in Patrick Mahomes, in Lamar Jackson. Drake Maye – respectfully, you’re having a great season. But I also put Drake Maye in a position where it’s like — we don’t really know, similar to [Daniel] Jones.
Newton in particular wasn’t thrilled with WEEI’s Andy Hart, who asked Maye earlier this week about Newton’s comments during the Patriots QB’s weekly interview on the radio station.
“I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye said on WEEI. “I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments. So, I just worry about what people in our organization think, and worry about we think and what my teammates think. People are going to have different opinions. I’m just going out there on Sunday and worrying about ourselves.”
For Newton, his gripe was the way that Hart’s question was phrased to Maye — stressing that he doesn’t have any issues with the Patriots’ star signal-caller.
“At the end of the day, my quarrel is the misunderstanding about where I stand — because this topic is, in essence, about me — it’s not with Drake Maye,” Newton added. “What people should know is the night he got drafted, him and all of his brothers gave me that decency and respect to say, ‘Hey bro, we’re from Charlotte, North Carolina, we really rock with you.’ One of his touchdowns this year, he did do the Superman [celebration].”
Newton said he didn’t take offense any Maye’s comments, noting that he himself is on several other shows beyond “First Take” and doesn’t believe that Maye was trying to dismiss him.
“I mean, for Christ’s sake, I am on a lot of shows: BET’s 106 & Sports, the great Stephen A. Smith brought me on First Take along with others, then you got Funky Friday, then you got 4th & 1. So he may have said, ‘Which one are we talking about?’
“So at the end of the day for me, it’s this understanding of — I’m a Drake Maye fan. But Drake Maye, you still have to prove yourself in a situation where I do not think that the AFC goes through New England, when you have a potential Lamar Jackson that’s out there, and, obviously, a Patrick Mahomes.”
Newton’s comments about Maye stood in stark contrast to Newton’s fellow “First Take” cast member, Stephen A. Smith, who took umbrage with Maye’s comments about not knowing what show Newton is on.
“He’s also a liar. First of all, let me tell you. Not to brag. Listen,” Smith said of Maye. “Pardon the Interruption is the No. 1 show on ESPN spanning twenty-plus [years]. First Take is the No. 1 morning show 13 years and counting, April will be 14 years.”
“Don’t tell me you’re an athlete and you don’t know that,” Smith continued. “Don’t tell me that you’re an athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton is on this show. You’re lying.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
