Cam Newton Criticizes Drake Maye’s Role in Patriots: A Fact Check
Cam Newton recently sparked controversy with his comments regarding the New England Patriots. He described the current team as “fool’s gold.” This statement prompted reactions from various quarters, including a response from college quarterback Drake Maye.
Drake Maye’s Reaction
When questioned about Newton’s remarks during a WEEI radio interview, Maye claimed he hadn’t heard the criticism. He admitted he wouldn’t know how to find Newton on air. His statement went viral, leading to accusations from Newton’s colleagues on “First Take” suggesting Maye was being deceptive.
Despite the backlash, Newton reiterated his earlier sentiments. He warned that if the Patriots continued to field subpar players, they risked developing a defeated mindset as they approached playoff season. “If you keep playing sorry scrubs, then you’re going to have this falsetto of a mentality going into the playoffs, and it has one-and-done written all over it,” he stated. Newton emphasized his preference for facing the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts and Strength of Schedule
Currently, the Colts hold an 8-2 record, ranking just above the Patriots in the strength of victory index. However, statistics challenge Newton’s assertions about playoff readiness linked to strength of schedule.
- Out of the last ten Super Bowl champions, only two had the highest strength of victory among playoff teams in their conference.
- The 2018 Patriots and the 2015 Denver Broncos, who defeated Newton in the Super Bowl, are those exceptions.
Michael Hurley from NBC Sports Boston highlighted a pattern where a lower strength of victory often indicates playoff success. For instance, in two of the Patriots’ three Super Bowl losses this century, they were defeated by NFC teams with the lowest strength of victory in their conference.
Conclusion
While it is valid to critique the strength of the Patriots’ schedule, linking regular-season performance directly to postseason success is more complex. Newton’s commentary, though provocative, may not align with statistical realities of playoff outcomes.
