Tuesday's Mashup: Doubters come for Newton to Pats

Happy Tuesday! It's the last day of June. Last day of the last month of no major live sports. And speaking of droughts ending...Boston's MVP drought is over!

Patriots drought of not having a former MVP at QB is finally overIt lasted 103 days

— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) June 29, 2020

Now to work on that duck boat drought. On with The Mash...

Few things look cooler on TV in the summer than New Year's Day hockey from a baseball park. Especially hen you know real hockey's return is in a month.

News of the Patriots signing Cam Newton, and at such a reduced rate, was met with mostly universal approval Sunday evening into the early hours of Monday. And rightly so, considering his skill set, motivation, the team and coaching staff he's headed to. Could be a perfect storm of low-risk high-reward success. But we had to expect a flip side to the coin of adulation and excitement. I mean, it's modern sports, and this is Boston...temporary joy turning into criticism is the weather we're most comfortable in. And sure enough, from social media to traditional broadcast, voices of dissent and disbelief flowed as freely as the celebratory beers of but a night ago. For example - on the radio, Colin Cowherd, who one-day pumps, then the next day deflates, Foxboro tires, says he thinks this won't make of a difference for Patriots 2020.

"I don't think Cam is going to take New England to a special place."@ColinCowherd reacts to Cam Newton signing with the Patriots: pic.twitter.com/GEXwtyRf32

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 29, 2020

On TV, Adam Schein said the Newton signing doesn't do anything to sway his belief in 2020 being the year of the Bills in the AFC East (Vegas disagrees).

"Don't overreact to the news with Cam Newton going to New England. Make no mistake the AFC East is all about the Buffalo Bills."Even with Cam Newton going to the Patriots, @AdamSchein still believes the Bills are the best team in the division. pic.twitter.com/c6jRbJ9YnT

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) June 29, 2020

And in print, our old pal/dependable troll, Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News (yes, it's still in circulation), made sure to do his job and try to take the air out of the Newton news.

Patriots projected win total (9), Super Bowl odds (+2500), AFC odds (+1200) and AFC East odds (+130, tied with Bills) did not change after the Cam Newton signing, @sportsbettingAG pic.twitter.com/5iC2VIyfGv

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) June 29, 2020

And on the social media/analytics front...a few familiar faces weighed in, saying they thought the reason behind a potential failure for Newton was not him, nor the coaches...but the supporting cast he was joining.

Cam Newton will have arguably the worst WR/TE corps in the NFL:WR1 Julian Edelman (34 years old)WR2 Mo SanuWR3 N'Keal HarryTE1 Matt LaCosseTE2 Devin Asiasi

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) June 29, 2020

The Patriots receivers aren't just bad, I think they're also unusually poorly suited to gelling with Cam Newton's skill set.He's dealt with iffy groups for years, so it's nothing new to him, but it's still a problem

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) June 29, 2020

Worst in the league? Poorly suited to Cam's skills? Time will tell, but stop me if you've heard this before...we can definitely expect all this, and any other doubt cast on Newton and the 2020 Patriots, to be immediate virtual bulletin board material and fuel for the actual football fire. If tbey play. Please let them find a way to play.

OK, maybe they're listening to us and really trying to find a way to play!

The @NFL advised teams that training camps are expected to begin as scheduled on July 28 with rookies and selected players permitted to report earlier. https://t.co/ZnSybQsTWD pic.twitter.com/B16LT1qMTX

— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) June 29, 2020

BECAUSE WE NEED THIS

If this one doesn't hit you right in the feels...well, it'll be a good test to make sure you still have feels, and they work. Father's Day bar raised going forward.

In middle school, this young lady’s stepdad used to leave a Post-it note on her door before he left for work each morning to inspire her.That was six years ago.Well, she kept all of those notes and just surprised him with a gift from the heart.--❤️pic.twitter.com/QTsJqcsbie

— Rex Chapman---- (@RexChapman) June 29, 2020

AND MAYBE YOU NEED THIS, TOO

While we have faith in the receivers, backs and weapons Newton will be presented with, some, if not many don't. And if they're to make that assessment they best either have the stats to back it up, or find a way to make us laugh. Herein someone accomplished the former.

When Cam Newton gets to New England and sees the type of receivers Tom Brady had to throw to last year...pic.twitter.com/c7jAdV2DLZ

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 29, 2020

Cam Newton reportedly was recommended to Patriots by former offensive coordinator