The 2020 season hasn't gone the way Cam Newton hoped it would, but the veteran quarterback is willing to give it another shot with the New England Patriots next year.
Newton caught up with NBC10 Boston's Raul Martinez on Tuesday and made it clear he would like to return as Patriots QB in 2021.
"Absolutely. I'm always up for a challenge," Newton told Martinez. "For me, knowing the events that took place wasn't under the circumstances that I would have wanted them to be. Part of me is saying there's a lot of unfinished business and knowing there's a lot of answers in that locker room that I do believe and know we could turn this thing around."
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There's no doubt Newton and the Patriots greatly underperformed this season. New England officially was eliminated from postseason contention after Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. It's the Patriots' first time missing the playoffs since 2008.
In 13 games, Newton has 2,381 passing yards for five touchdowns (11 rushing) and 10 interceptions.
While Newton won't make excuses for he and the team's subpar play, the 2020 campaign wasn't a conventional one by any stretch of the imagination. Several key Patriots players opted out over COVID-19 concerns prior to the season, and Newton himself had COVID-19 in early October.
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So, will the Patriots give Newton a second chance? The quarterback situation will be one of many intriguing storylines in New England this offseason. If Bill Belichick does decide to let Newton compete for the starting job again, it sure sounds like the 31-year-old QB would happily accept the offer.