NFL Notebook: Cam Newton better bring more than energy to this Patriots team & more roster thoughts

A big storyline during this Patriots training camp: What kind of energy is Cam Newton bringing to the Patriots?

Player X, is it energizing to you?
Hey Bill, what do you think about Cam's energy ... are you going to start dancing too?
Coaches, what about the energy Cam brings to the meeting rooms?
Those are some cool handshakes he's got...

Wait a minute .. what kind of bizarro Boston sports market am I in?

Since when did the predominant talking point about a player — nevermind at a crucial spot like quarterback — start with anything other than what said player was going to bring between the white lines? When did we start caring about the energy a certain player brought to one of our teams? They're playing team sports, not part of a spirit squad.

Did anyone care what kind of energy Larry Bird brought to the locker room? What kind of teammate was Ted Williams? I have no idea, but I know he could hit the crap out of the ball. Was Tom Brady's ascension in 2001 about the vibe he brought to the locker room or the way he interacted with his teammates, or was it because he took care of the ball and showed an uncanny ability to come through in the clutch? Bobby Orr transformed hockey in this region, yet he was iconic for what he did on the ice as he barely said a word off it.

"I have never run into any player who brings the intensity that he brought," Harry Sinden, who spent 45 years as a coach or front office executive, told SI. "His silence, his looks, were enough to tell you if he didn't like what was happening. And he made the rest of us the same way. You could not be around him without feeling that and getting inline."

For those who consumed The Last Dance on ESPN, what kind of energy did Michael Jordan brings to the Bulls' locker room on his way to winning six titles?

You could make the argument that David Ortiz, and even Pedro Martinez, changed the vibe around the Red Sox. But we all know that group wasn't breaking any curse if Ortiz couldn't bat his weight, or if Martinez was throwing meatballs like John Wasdin.

Energy doesn't matter. Production does.

And, man, does this Patriots team need Newton to be Superman on the field, not Bruno Mars in the locker room.

Because of that, I say, please, for the love of all that is holy, bring on the games so we can have a real discourse about Newton The Patriot. Because to this point, despite the media having at least some access to 12 practices, that has not happened.

Look, if you were out at the camp practices, the storyline about this Patriots offense would be, "Will they be good enough through the air to win?" If we were being honest, there should be a ton of concern about the Patriots' offense.

They have no one outside of Julian Edelman that has had much of a pro career now that "Molasses" Mohamed Sanu was released. At tight end, rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene don't look like they're close to being ready for a full workload early in this season. That's no knock on them: it took Aaron Hernandez until Week 6 in 2010 to play 60-plus snaps before injuries curtailed him the rest of the way. It took Hall of Fame-bound Rob Gronkowski until Week 14 to get over 60 snaps on a regular basis as a rookie.

And Newton is part of this as well. In truly competitive camp drills, we had Newton going 85 of 143 (59.4 percent) with four interceptions, a fumble and multiple sacks.

That will not be good enough.

Some of that is, admittedly, out of context. We've talked at length about how Bully Ball is going to have to be the persona of this offense, and how Newton will never win a league-wide 7-on-7 competition — his greatness is his ability to play ball, not just throw it like some other quarterbacks. And no one really knows what the offense is going to look like, although even though Newton said Fridays he's most excited because no one knows what to expect out of their offense, it's not like the Patriots are going to be inventing a new offense — everything in football is borrowed from somewhere else.

But Newton is going to have to execute in the passing game for this team to contend for the postseason. And too often in camp, it didn't look all that great — and it wasn't just because of the secondary. Newton's accuracy is very erratic. He has a propensity for throwing high and putting his receivers into danger. There were times at practice where I found myself saying, "Get rid of the (bleeping) ball," as Newton would hold and hold and hold the ball (of course, I said the same about Jimmy Garoppolo ... when he was a rookie). I'd be on the lookout for a lot of sacks early as Newton and the rest of the Patriots get accustomed to game speed.

I am not discounting that the Patriots would likely be utterly lost without Newton. I do, however, think they would have benefitted from any of the available quarterbacks (Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, etc.) if they were the last ones left standing and willing to take a minimum contract.

And I will admit to you that from what I've heard since Tom Brady departed, the Patriots did need a vibe change in the locker room because a dour Brady, which start to crop up at the end of 2018, took its toll on the Patriots last season. It was so bad that some of his teammates have admittedly privately that it was better for all involved that Brady moved on if he was going to have the same attitude this season.

But at the end of the day, what's important is whether or not the Patriots are successful in the first season after Tom Brady. I can tell you that, as long as Newton isn't Debbie Downer in the meeting rooms, the team's success will have zero to do with any energy or intangibles Newton brings Monday-Saturday to the Patriots. It will have everything to do with what he does on the field, and there is much to prove there for everyone involved.

NICKEL PACKAGE

1. My reaction to the Patriots naming their captains, including Newton? Shrug. Ask any former Patriots player and they'll tell you Belichick picks the captains nevermind the voting. Of course he was going to name Newton a captain — he's the quarterback and he deserves it for the work he has put in behind the scenes. I get that bouquet after bouquet has been tossed at Newton, but they haven't played any games yet — it's the honeymoon period. Let's see how jolly everyone is when New England starts 3-4 and the offense is averaging 15 points a game after traveling to Buffalo. Ja'Whaun Bentley is a captain because who else is going to do it ... one of the four rookies likely around him (same goes for Lawrence Guy on the defensive line) at linebacker? I'm more interested in why Julian Edelman has never been a captain.

2. Expect the Patriots to be looking for help at tight end and linebacker when it comes to cutdowns (Broncos veteran Todd Davis is an interesting early name). The problem with tight end is it will be tough to displace anyone from the roster because you need to learn the scheme, and the two rookies aren't going anywhere. Ryan Izzo is the only veteran who knows what he's doing, so he's not going anywhere. Are you going to bring in a veteran and let him sit on the roster for X weeks while he gets up to speed? That might be tough. I wouldn't be surprised if they stand pat at tight end.

3. Linebacker is a different story and an underrated big weakness for the team — all of them, outside and inside. Off the ball, it's Bentley — who wasn't even good last season — and a bunch of unknowns. The offense was absolutely brutalizing them upfront during camp. I'd be willing to take on a couple of veterans there and, really, outside of Chase Winovich, I'd be willing to part with any of the edge players to make room for some linebackers who can play physical football.

4. Hoping Bill Belichick resists the urge to stock his defense with players who won't see the field and keeps all the kids at receiver (Gunner Olszewski, Devin Ross, Jakobi Meyers ... even Isaiah Zuber has impressed — Jeff Thomas is not ready) and gives the ball to Damien Harris when he's healthy. Brady and The Circle of Trust is gone. Let the younger player, with real speed and promise have a chance to learn and grow.

5. Congratulations to David Andrews for winning the Ron Burton Community Service Award. “It’s a huge honor," Andrews said. "Still kind of just humbled by it, guys I’ve looked up to in this program, especially on the offensive line like Matt Light and Joe Andruzzi. I love this community, and I love this area. It’s something important to me to always try to give back. It’s just a huge honor.”