The crowd was sparse at the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium on Monday, probably due to the overcast skies and drizzle that started the latest New England Patriots training camp practice.

But then again, training camp practices are now in the double digits, and perhaps, even after a year of not being able to see their favorite pro football team, the novelty may have worn off already.

After all, how many two minute drills featuring dueling quarterbacks Cam Newton and rookie Mac Jones can one watch? Even if it’s for free?

Still, it’s great to have some life injected into training camp, compared to how quiet things were last year.

Who’s going to win that QB battle? Jones has the talent, and basically has looked better overall in camp. Newton, though, has the experience, and that’s usually when any good NFL head coach like Bill Belichick will go with.

Newton didn’t play in front of any fans last year thanks to the pandemic, but he seems to remain a fan favorite here, as the crowd gave a big cheer when he ran out onto the practice field.

We’ll see how they react to him on Thursday night in the preseason opener. Hopefully he won’t get them angry by throwing the ball at receivers’ feet like he did a year ago with the stands empty.

And so it goes. The 2021 New England Patriots training camp is certainly different than last year, when it was held in virtual -literally, in terms of interviews – anonymity.

And with just three preseason games – the first one at Gillette on Thursday night – time may be of the essence for the teams to get their roster set and the players they want reps.

Jones went 11 of 14 on Monday, throwing into some tight passing windows and having to deal with a pass rush for one of the few times.

Newton went 11 of 17, ran on one play, but during the two minute drill failed to get the Patriots into the end zone.

Yet why do we think he’s going to get the nod over Jones? Because he’s a veteran. But at some point, Belichick will go to Jones. It just won’t be that early in the season. And Newton’s running ability is tempting so he’ll probably be part of a change-of-pace style.

Really, you won’t know how things will go until both QBs are under fire, and that will happen to some degree on Thursday and in the second preseason game at Philadelphia on Aug. 19. The final one, at the New York Giants, is probably going to be a Brian Hoyer special.

The Patriots are tight end heavy, signing both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith as big time free agents during their March spending spree. Newton will probably benefit from that, as it likely means a shorter, quicker passing game.

Of course, health is an issue, and some players will feel the heat. One goes down, one comes back. Hunter Henry hurt his shoulder during Sunday’s padded practice, but second year man Devin Asiasi is back from a bout with COVID, Monday being his second practice.

“I feel good, my second day out here, getting back with the guys, back in the groove of things,” he said. “I feel good overall.”

Asiasi trusts that his trainers and coaches “have a good plan for me going forward.”

He was asked how he dealt with the virus,and didn’t reveal much.

‘It was kind of difficult,” Asiasi said. “It is what it is. … For me, it’s getting familiar, getting that muscle memory back.”

Yes, muscle memory. The Patriot players will have the benefit of a preseason to work the kinks out.

“Having this preseason, hving a game to look forward to. … I can’t wait.”

Probably neither can the fans. It’s definitely a different feeling at Gillette in 2021. One that isn’t as empty as the stadium or the practice field stands were last year.

Tom King may be reached at @Telegraph_TomK on twitter, or tking@nashuatelegraph.com