The number 12 will always be sacrosanct in Foxborough and may never be worn on a jersey there again. It is also the number that Bill Belichick hopes will get the most out of Cam Newton and bring the Patriots back to Super Bowl contention.
That’s 12 as in “12 personnel,” what the football world calls an offensive formation with one running back and two tight ends (and two receivers).
The Patriots figure to use a lot of it in 2021 after signing the top two tight ends in free agency to major contracts — four years and $50 million for Jonnu Smith, and three years and $37.