Asante Samuel Slams Cam Newton Following His Harsh Comments on Drake Maye

Asante Samuel took issue with Cam Newton calling Patriots quarterback and MVP front runner Drake Maye a 'game manager' instead of a 'game changer' by challenging Newton's own NFL record.

Asante Samuel Slams Cam Newton Following His Harsh Comments on Drake Maye

Cam Newton and Asante Samuel inside the circle (Image via IMAGO)

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Cam Newton’s 2015-16 NFL season with the Carolina Panthers was historic. Newton won the NFL MVP and led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance.

Everyone in the league knew about his talent as a ballplayer. After dominating college football with Auburn, Newton stepped foot in the big league as the first overall pick. In his rookie season, he racked up 4700+ scrimmage yards and 35 total touchdowns.

The Panthers struggled to win games, but Newton had established himself as among the top dual-threat quarterbacks. Everything clicked in the 2015-16 season. He finished the regular season with 4500+ yards, 45 total touchdowns, and just 10 picks.

Newton faltered in the Super Bowl, losing to Peyton Manning‘s Denver Broncos. Despite his prowess, two-time Super Bowl champion cornerback Asante Samuel claimed that Newton wasn’t a quarterback who could single-handedly change the course of a game. He tweeted:

Honestly, Cam Newton wasn’t a game changer. He was just a big guy that can run the ball. Not much talent in that.

Why did Asante Samuel take a swipe at Cam Newton?

Samuel posted the tweet after Newton labeled Drake Maye as a ‘game-manager’ even after leading the New England Patriots to a 13-3 record and the AFC East title with one game to spare. Maye is among the favorites to become the league MVP alongside the Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford.

Asante Samuel Slams Cam Newton Following His Harsh Comments on Drake Maye
Cam Newton (Image via IMAGO)

In last week’s game against the New York Jets, Maye tossed five touchdowns—four coming in the first half—the first to do so since Tom Brady against the Houston Texans in 2014. Newton still refused to call the UNC graduate a “game-changer.” Cam Newton said on the “4th & 1″ podcast. (HT/New York Post):

Drake Maye is well and capable, has all of the upside and skill set. But last year [rookie season] … a head coach [Jerod Mayo] was fired. … Does [Jerod] Mayo have a job right now? [The] offensive coordinator was Alex Van Pelt. Is he an offensive coordinator anywhere in this league? Thank you. Now insert Mike Vrabel. Now insert a dynamic play-caller in Josh McDaniels. The system is right, so I can’t just sit up here and say Drake Maye is a game-changer right now, because we’ve only had one season of dynamic play.

Newton rarely minces his words while assessing a quarterback, especially if he’s a young signal caller. Sure, the Patriots played the easiest schedule, but they still needed to put them away. Coaching also plays a big part in a player’s development. Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels’ influence on Maye’s play is undeniable; however, it’s up to the 23-year-old to make every play, and he has done so with flying colours.

Maye has thrown 340 completions (71.7%) for 4203 yards, 34 total touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He became only the third quarterback, after Drew Bledsoe and Brady, to record 4000 passing yards in Patriots history.

Maye isn’t bothered by the negative chatter regarding his season. His sole focus is securing the AFC number one seed and a bye in the playoffs. To do so, he and the Patriots must defeat the 7-9 Miami Dolphins on the final day of the regular season.

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