The fact he played a reserve side agains Stevenage and Brighton (in two seasons competition) - and lost them all - has nothing to do with it.
The 53-year-old takes his Crystal Palace side to another former employer as the Eagles face a tough fourth-round tie at Southampton on Saturday.
With cup humiliation coming with defeat at Stevenage in 2010 and Brighton knocking out the Magpies twice in successive years, many could point an accusatory finger at Pardew for his approach to the competition.
Alan Pardew insists he did not dismiss the FA Cup during his time in charge at Newcastle United
Pardew: 'That is the perception but it wasn't the case.
'It was just at times we were unlucky in terms with selection of teams.
'We had a couple of bad results in that competition and, of course, the way it is with cups and their longing for a trophy after all these years, the hurt at going out was magnified each time.
'Unfortunately I have to accept that but I can assure you we didn't plan for it. I have always done the same with cups.
'I have tried to make sure the team is competitive and sometimes you do have to look within your squad and give people the opportunity, as we did at Dover. Then hopefully you find out things about players, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the not.'