Josh McDaniels explains why Patriots players are gravitating toward Cam Newton

Cam Newton has won over the New England Patriots.

While there was a time in training camp when the Patriots seemed guarded in their praise for Newton, he has earned the starting quarterback job, which is leading to New England letting down its guard. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels began to detail his early work with Newton. It sounds like the quarterback is popular at Gillette Stadium.

“He’s come in and he’s really worked hard,” McDaniels told reporters on a conference call on Tuesday. “It’s really been an enjoyable experience for me, for our staff, our team just to get to know him and the things that he’s been familiar with. And then watch him acclimate to our system and our players and the way we do things. His attitude’s been great. It’s been fun. It’s been a fun process. He brings a lot of energy. There is never a dull moment. And he really — you can see why the players gravitate so much towards him. His personality lends itself to that, whether it’s in the meeting room, on the practice field, in the locker room, etc. He’s done a really good job.”

Newton competed with quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, and the former MVP came out on top. The Patriots signed Newton this offseason to a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million in incentives, but it was no guarantee that he’d stick with New England, in the event his long list of injuries had impacted his ability to play well. But New England is clearly committed to the quarterback. The feeling is mutual, with Newton spending long hours at the facility.

“But I think there’s nothing more I could have asked him to do in the four or five weeks that we’ve been working together to try to grasp his responsibility in our offense at the quarterback position. I think the guys that have been in that room have really worked well together to help that process along. We’ve got guys with different, varying levels of experience and certainly I think they’ve welcomed him, as have our offensive players, our team. He’s really done a good job of reciprocating that with his work and his effort every day.”