Cam Newton feeding off 'haters' amid fight for Patriots' starting QB job

Yes, Cam Newton is fighting for a chance at redemption after a dismal 2020 season -- not to mention fighting for his job. But he isn't going to let anyone see him sweat it.

The 10-year veteran will compete with rookie first-round pick Mac Jones for the New England Patriots starting quarterback job when training camp opens up in late July. Critics have been putting him down for the better part of a year, calling him subpar and unworthy of being in the Pats' future plans, among other things. 

In typical Cam Newton fashion, however, he is using that negativity as fuel.

“If the hate ain’t in my focus, I don’t feed it," Newton told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. "I feed off of it, but I don’t feed it. It’s two different things. When I sense or when I dwell on hatred, that’s the product that’s gonna come out: rage, anger. But that’s the hatred using me, not me using the hatred. So I want to process that and make that fuel me. I don’t dwell on what a person may say, what this person may say, she say, I just use it to my advantage and I feed what I want it to feed.”

New England went 7-9 last season with Newton was at the helm for 15 games. Sure, he isn't solely responsible for the Pats having their first losing season since 2000. (New England's defense isn't getting away blameless here.) But rating 30th overall last season with eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence in the former Auburn product, either.

Even with a verbal vote of confidence from head coach Bill Belichick, it's looking pretty clear that the starting QB job in Foxboro is Newton's to lose. His focus now is to use the negativity being thrown at him by his "haters" to visualize he has already won it.

“You gotta visualize yourself already there," Newton told the Herald. “And once you get there, find so much distress that you can gutter up and feel comfortable in it. Whenever that is. And that’s how you grind. You know what I’m saying? Just take your mind to that place, stay there, get uncomfortable, and be comfortable with being in that position.”