Ex-teammate unsure how Cam Newton will handle criticism from Bill Belichick

Cam Newton's ex-teammate Kyle Love, who played for both the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, discussed one problem the former MVP might have while in New England, and it involves Bill Belichick.

"This is just my opinion, but I don't feel like Cam can take the pressure of coaches talking down about his play," Love told the Boston Herald. "If he had a bad game in Carolina, the coaching staff wouldn't say much to him because they may have felt he could be a little frail about it or maybe pout. They never really corrected to the point Bill used to correct Tom."

Belichick isn't shy about criticizing anyone on the Patriots roster, and that included Tom Brady. If Brady made a bad play, throw or just had a bad game in general, Belichick chewed him out just like he would anyone else. 

"Bill's going to be Bill, and he's going to let Cam know how he feels no matter what," Love said. "Everybody is treated equal, and I actually love that about Bill because that let the whole team know you're going to be held accountable."

If Newton can take the criticism to heart, then he should be fine. However, he could go through a bit of a learning curve after allegedly rarely facing criticism from the only coach he's ever played for, Ron Rivera. 

Playing for the Patriots organization can be rough, and many former players have criticized the team in the past. Cassius Marsh, who had a short stint with the team in 2017, stated "there's nothing fun" about playing in New England and also said he hated playing for Belichick.

While other former Patriots didn't criticize the organization, they have admitted it's a difficult place to play. Both Nate Solder and Danny Amendola said the pressure was extreme during their tenure with the organization. 

If Newton and Belichick don't get along, it's going to be a long season for both. However, if things go smoothly, then the Patriots will have a shot at keeping their dynasty alive.

While he could become Brady's successor, Newton wasn't guaranteed the starting position. He'll be competing against second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer for the role, though things likely will come down to Stidham and Newton. 

If Newton beats out the 23-year-old Stidham, it won't be that surprising. Newton has made 124 career starts, made a Super Bowl appearance and was the league's MVP.