Newton sounds like he could write his own book about leadership.

“Leadership is an Art” was written by Max DePree and published in 1987. It explores how business managers can develop into leaders to help their organizations grow more profitable. The book teaches the importance of building relationships, communication and integrity. It has nothing to do with football.

That’s one reason why Brad Franchione gave the book to Cam Newton in 2009.

Newton was a 20-year-old transfer looking for a fresh start at Blinn College after a disappointing two-year stint at the University of Florida. He made his intentions clear to Franchione, his new head coach. The young quarterback wanted another shot to play high-level college football and also wanted to become a better leader.

That’s why Franchione gave him the book. After each chapter, the two met and talked about how the lessons related to football.

“I’ve always felt it was one of my favorite books, especially teaching leadership, because it doesn’t say one thing about football in it. But every chapter is something that can relate to a football team or football program,” Franchione said. “And he was intent on becoming a better leader. A book like that can fill up with quite a few days of leadership lessons.”

With Newton, people chose what they want to see in him. Maybe they focused on his brightly colored suits, fancy hats or the eccentric on-field nature. Franchione learned there’s more than meets the eye with him. It’s why players follow him wherever he goes, including now with the Patriots.

“He taught me a lot of things,” Franchione said. “He broke the mold for what I thought leadership had to look like. As coaches, we tend to have a stereotype or a real defined box of what a good leader looks like. And he expanded my box.”

CHAPTER 2: What Is Leadership?

DePree defines leadership not as a measure of the individual in charge, but as the overall result of the organization. He asks, “Are the followers reaching their potential? Do they achieve the required results?”

Leaders should leave behind a legacy, DePree writes. That’s what Newton did. Blinn College lost just one game in 2009 en route to the NJCAA national championship. The next year, Newton led Auburn to the 2010 BCS national championship.

Then-Auburn coach Gene Chizik saw Newton put in an insurmountable amount of work behind the scenes. He was obsessed with winning and improving. When he was named the starter, he went out of his way to be a leader. That meant eating lunch with his offensive linemen every Friday before the games. That meant, when it was the fourth quarter and Auburn was down, Newton didn’t just want the ball. He needed it.

“That’s the main event,” Chizik said. “The main event is that everybody understands that it’s really important to Cam to win. And no matter what his style and flair and all that is, he’s one of the most competitive humans on the planet. Everybody in every locker room knows that it’s extremely important for him to win and so they follow him.”

Newton played at Blinn and Auburn fueled by doubt. He sat behind Tim Tebow for two years at Florida. He had to go to the junior college route to get back. Chizik told every NFL team after that season that Newton was the full package. He was studious, hard working and a general on the field.

That year, Newton scored a game-winner against LSU. In the Iron Bowl, Auburn was down, 24-0, to Alabama and the quarterback scored four touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 28-27 victory. In the national championship game, he drove the Tigers down the field to set up the winning field goal.

“I think he definitely wanted to prove that he was worthy of the hype, and that he could carry a team on his shoulders,” Chizik said. “That all goes back to the importance of winning to him. And it’s very important for him to be the best player on the field. … When the game is on the line to win it or lose it, he’s one of those guys that wants the ball in his hands.”

CHAPTER 15: To Make One Vice President

“Leaders are also responsible for future leadership.”

DePree writes that it’s a leader’s job “to identify, develop and nurture future leaders.”

Unbeknownst to Chizik or any of the Auburn coaches, Newton was going out of his way to help children in 2010. That season, the team’s off day fell on Monday. Every week, Newton traveled to local elementary schools to read and talk with kids. Newton didn’t tell anyone.

“In one of my very first conversations with him, I asked him, ‘If football doesn’t work out for you or when your playing days are over, what would you like to do?’” Chizik said. “And his answer was, ‘I’d like to own a daycare.’ That was one of the first things he ever said to me. He loves kids.”

After every Blinn College game, Newton went to Franchione’s house to break down film. The only problem was Newton spent a lot of time playing with his coach’s three children. One day, Wyatt, Franchione’s 6-year-old son, asked if he could take Newton to kindergarten for show and tell. Newton obliged. That energy was also seen every Friday when the Buccaneers held a pep rally at a local elementary school. Every time, Newton put on a show for the children.

“He went out of his way to be a role model,” Franchione said. “It’s fun to be around. He was always smiling, always laughing, bringing all kinds of energy to the room. It’s not common, but when you see it, you really gravitate towards it.”

That is still the case today. Every offseason, Newton organizes a seven-on-seven tournament where he mentors standout high school players. One of his pupils was Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson. In Carolina, every time he scored, he’d hand the ball to a kid in the stands.

“As soon as he barrels through four or five D-lineman, he’s making a beeline out of the end zone asking, ‘Whose day can I brighten up?’ ” said George Whitfield, Newton’s former quarterback coach. “I just think people kind of miss read it a little bit because of the front. … But if you just try to take in the man for what he is, you’d want him in any part of anything you’re doing.”

CHAPTER 17: The Marks of Elegance

“Opportunity must always be connected to accountability.”

DePree writes that without true opportunity and risk, there is no chance to become accountable. He adds that we all have gifts, but it’s up to us to seize accountability in order to accomplish goals.

The Panthers released Newton on March 17. He remained unsigned until July 8 when he inked a one-year deal with the Patriots. It even got to a point that Whitfield, who worked with Newton prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, was calling NFL contacts to try to help his friend. He was blown away when team after team passed.

“People get lost a lot in what he’s wearing, how he’s expressing himself, etc., etc.,” Whitefield said. “The guy, outside of his family, has one singular love, and that’s football. And every time he comes off the field, it was in a winning effort. … I mean, he’s still a Ford F-250, but people just get lost in the music coming out of the windows. But it’s still a worker truck, you know what I mean? Still tough, still dependable. He holds himself such a high regard.”

Newton put it on himself to prove people wrong. He worked hard this offseason. He meditated. He confided in friends and sought counsel. When training camp began, he was in great shape. It didn’t take him long to win the quarterback competition or become a leader. Within his first month on the Patriots, he was voted a captain by his teammates. Even Bill Belichick routinely gushes over him.

This week, when asked about what being a leader meant to him, he gave a 132-word response explaining it was “just holding yourself accountable.” He said it’s about not being selfish but always putting the team first.

“Whether it’s leading by example or just giving a pep talk, we all can lead,” Newton explains. “But in order to be a great leader, you also have to be a great follower.”

Newton sounds like he could write his own book about leadership. As DePree writes, “At the heart of being accountable is the matter of caring.”

Cam Newton does. He always has.