Patriots quarterback Cam Newton. Kris Craig/The Providence Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Cam Newton among Patriots players at voluntary workouts

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 4/19/21

New England Patriots players released a statement last week saying "many of us" would not participate in voluntary workouts due to concerns about adequate health and safety protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cam Newton isn't among those players. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the veteran quarterback is "among those leading the charge in attendance."

Patriots' voluntary offseason program begins today, with the 1st phase extending through May 14. This phase includes virtual meetings of up to 2 hours per day, with facilities and weight rooms open with capacity limits.

Cam Newton among those leading the charge in attendance.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 19, 2021

Phase one of voluntary workouts begins Monday and runs through May 14. The second phase begins May 17.

It's not surprising that Newton has opted to attend voluntary workouts. For one, he gets a $100,000 bonus for attending. Secondly, he's hoping to improve in 2021 after a disappointing 2020 campaign.

Reiss added that the "majority" of players will likely attend voluntary workouts.

The Patriots were among the first few teams to release a statement saying not all players would be attending the workouts due to COVID-19 concerns. Over half of the NFL's 32 teams have released similar statements.

More must-reads: