There will be a mutual respect between quarterbacks when the Baltimore Ravens travel to Gillette Stadium on "Sunday Night Football" to face the New England Patriots in a Week 10 clash.
Ravens' signal-caller Lamar Jackson, the 2019 MVP, praised Patriots' Cam Newton on Wednesday, referring to him as the "OG" and "Superman." Jackson explained how he always has paid close attention to Newton, in large part because of the similarities as two dual-threat QBs.
It seems Newton has been left just as impressed. The first-year Patriot discussed how his fellow NFL MVP influenced him, as well.
"Man, my boy Lamar got a gift not many of human beings got," Newton told reporters Thursday during a video conference. "And just to see him take off, I’m a fan of the game, and if I’m watching Baltimore, obviously I’m watching to see what the MVP is going to do. So, you know, I just respect his game so much. And for him to evolve, you know, people don’t realize they just see you running around, and I think for a long time and still to date, a lot of people don’t respect the art of being able to run, protect yourself and to attack the defense in as many different ways -- not taking anything against anyone who cannot or does not decide to run -- but for him to be as success and make the impact, the big splash in this game, not many people have done it."
Newton specifically noted longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and Jackson as two of the best running quarterbacks, and said he doesn't think he fits into "that stratosphere."
"... But for him to be as dominant, dynamic, explosive at the quarterback position is something that gives so much opportunity to the younger generation, to be able to see what Lamar Jackson is doing and to give hope and say 'I can play the quarterback position, too.'"
Newton clearly appreciated Jackson's praise. He shared a similar story to the Ravens' star about the first time he saw Jackson play at Louisville.
"I don't think even Lamar knows this," Newton said. "I think I saw Lamar's first college game. It was an early game, and surprisingly enough they played Auburn (in 2015). He was a freshman. And I just kept looking. It was at the Georgia Dome I believe. I believe it was in Georgia. And I was looking at him like, 'Who in the world is this kid flying around?' I didn't know who he was. But he was making plays. He was so electric. But you knew he was young, and he knew he had the capabilities of being obviously what he is today if staying out of trouble and evolving his game more so less of from the neck up. And the legend of Lamar Jackson is history in the college level.
"But for him or anybody else, I just know when I first came into the league and I knew how hard it was to kind of find the likeness so to speak and to want to chat to people or talk with people -- not saying it was hard. But talking to certain quarterbacks that do not have your amenities or your traits can be kind of tough," Newton continued. "But playing quarterback, you just still get great dialogue from any person that's been in this league for a long time. But for him and anybody else, the young guns in this league, man, I always want to use my services as any way shape form possible. And for him to say those words, it's pretty cool, but yet he's a person who has took this league by storm. And especially early on the doubt that came with it. We call can all relate to being the second guessed, 'Can he play?,' 'He's got bust written all over him,' and for him to succeed through it all, man he's a true underdog story that we all love to root for."
Newton and the 3-5 Patriots will face Jackson and the 6-2 Ravens on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET.
