The Big Tease.

That’s the way the last regular season game of a National Football League season can always be for teams who aren’t making the playoffs.

So let’s not take too much from Sunday’s 28-14 New England Patriots win over the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium, one that finishes the season for the Patriots at a highly mediocre – some would say poor – 7-9.

A year ago, when the Patriots lost to the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the playoffs, all the media attention and speculation went to whether or not the New England quarterback would return. That, of course, was Tom Brady.

This year, a week earlier, after Sunday’s finale, that was the deal with Cam Newton. Newton was a bit of what the Patriots envisioned when signing and then sticking with him as he completed 21 of 30 attempts for 242 yards and three TDs and caught another from his former camp pupil, former quarterback Jakobi Meyers. His 49 yard run from scrimmage in the first quarter to set up the Patriots first score was a franchise longest run ever for a QB. And his 592 rushing yards for the season, capped by his 79 yards Sunday, were a franchise record as well.

But, of course, the NFL best rumor time other than the start of free agency is the morning of the final regular season game, when the networks save their scoops. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, during an on-air discussion, said that Newton and the Patriots agreed to part ways after today.

“Both sides enjoyed their relationship,” Schefter said Sunday on the air at ESPN. “But both sides expect that it will take them to a different place and a different direction in 2021, with Cam Newton likely moving on and the Patriots in search of a new quarterback for next season.”

Of course Newton was asked about his future.

“Listen, I have my desires,” Newton said. “I know where my heart’s at. I know the things, who I am. But as far as that, I can’t really speak on it right now. But just my whole time here in New England has been a blessing.”

And, evidently, not a blessing in disguise.

“I’ve learned so much about myself,” Newton said, “about great teammates, unbelievable coaching. Yeah, so I just see how it goes, go from there.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, of course, didn’t want to get into next year. Yet we all know where Schefter got his info.

“Is this another one of your anonymous reports?” Belichick responded when asked about the report. When told it was from Schefter, he said “I don’t think that’s what Adam said. You should talk to Adam about that then. Great question, thank you.”

Ouch. But we all know that Newton simply isn’t coming back. The Patriots can’t afford to have a quarterback who can’t throw the football effectively. Sure, it’s tantalizing to have a QB that’s built like a linebacker, who can do that athletic things that Newton did on Sunday. But when 75 percent of the time he can’t hit the broad side of a barn, that doesn’t work in today’s NFL. It looked great the first three weeks of the season, but you need to take the last three weeks before today to see the problem.

“Cam has given us a lot of leadership, certainly gave it to us today, first run, getting the ball in the end zone,” Belichick said. “Again, just part of the leadership he’s given us all year, especially with (center Dave) Andrews out, being a little shorthanded there offensively.”

Newton is well liked by his teammates. Belichick knew he would’ve lost the locker room had he taken the starting job away from Newton.

“He’s been the offensive leader day-in, day-out,” Patriots defensive leader Devin McCourty said. “I was happy not only for his play, but for the success of the whole offense that he leads. I was just happy for him because I know he cares a lot about that….I’ve been very fortunate and happy the way this year worked out, to get to know him and get to see his work ethic and person and all the things that he brings to the team. So it’s been awesome just to be around him.”

But it doesn’t look like McCourty and the rest of the Patriots will be around him next season. No tease, just reality.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.