Cam Newton is almost grinning in his first picture in a Patriots jersey (Photo)

Cam Newton looks good in a New England Patriots jersey, but weird in one.

Cam Newton swapped out black and Carolina blue for some red, white and blue on his new jersey.

After spending his first nine NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Newton begins year 10 with the New England Patriots. Newton only played in two games last season for Carolina. The Panthers’ long-time head coach Ron Rivera was fired before the end of the year. Owner David Tepper made wholesale changes to the organization, including cutting ties with Newton.

After being held out of the first and second waves of NFL free agency, Newton eventually made his way to New England back in July. He is expected to compete with his fellow Auburn Tiger Jarrett Stidham and veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer for the starting job. Given Newton’s dynamism and ability to make plays with his legs, he’s the favorite. Here he is in Patriots uniform.

Is Cam Newton almost cracking a smile in his New England Patriots uniform?

Even though he’s going to the most stoic of NFL franchises, you can almost see Newton grinning in his Patriots uniform. It’s been a long time coming for him to get another opportunity in the NFL. Surely, he wanted to spend his entire NFL career in Charlotte, and why wouldn’t he? Newton was the most popular player in Panthers franchise history. He went to the Super Bowl and won MVP!

For now, Newton has to reinvent himself as the potential successor to Tom Brady in Foxborough. It will be next to impossible to replace the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but here we are. Someone has to do it, so why not the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner out of Auburn University? He took THAT team and won their first national title since the 1950s seemingly out of nowhere.

It will be interesting to see how he meshes with “The Patriot Way”. Newton can be a little extra for many people, but he’s as tough as they come, prepares his tail off and loves the game that he plays professionally. A new start in New England may be the best thing for him in his NFL career. Look for him to do his best to win the starting job out of training camp in New England.

It may look strange, but Newton pulls off wearing a Patriots uniform just fine.