The Dolphins picked up their quarterback’s fifth-year option two months in advance, after rumors emerged about the team’s potential to seek an upgrade on Tua Tagovailoa. Committing fully to Justin Fields, the Bears traded the No. 1 overall pick earlier than anyone has during an offseason since the draft moved to April. The Patriots have operated differently with their young quarterback.
Mac Jones is now coming up in trade rumors, and Bill Belichick has not endorsed the 2021 first-round pick — despite Jones receiving praise from Robert Kraft — as his surefire starter yet. That said, the Pats might not exactly be intent on moving Jones.
The teams mentioned in Tuesday’s report — the Buccaneers, Commanders, Raiders and Texans — have not seemed to indicate notable Jones discussions commenced. Staffers from multiple teams mentioned told SI.com’s Albert Breer they had not heard from the Patriots on Jones, though one had discussed the quarterback with the Pats. High-ranking execs from a QB-needy team in the AFC and NFC also mentioned they had also not heard from New England, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports (subscription required).
Even if the Patriots are not operating like they want to cut bait on the former national championship-winning passer, his standing in the organization does appear to have taken a hit. Belichick has been upset with how the quarterback conducted himself last season, and the efforts the Alabama alum made to contact coaches at his alma mater did not go over well with the legendary head coach. This certainly raises the stakes for Jones’ 2023, as he took a step back — albeit as he was thrust into one of the stranger offensive experiments in memory — last season. Rival evaluators pointed to the Pats’ dysfunctional offense as giving Jones no chance to succeed in 2022, Howe adds, pointing to potentially reasonable trade value — in the event the third-year QB was legitimately being shopped.
By the end of last season, Breer adds some Patriots coaches did not believe a large gulf existed between Jones and backup Bailey Zappe. The Pats have since released Brian Hoyer, who has rejoined Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas, and are prepared to give Zappe an opportunity to push Jones. Belichick should be expected to make the former No. 15 overall pick earn his job during the summer, Breer notes, adding Zappe — a fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky — fell in line with what the Patriots were trying to do last year. That perhaps should be expected of a rookie, but Belichick certainly looks to be sending a message to Jones this offseason.
Both Jones and Zappe, per Breer, have stayed in town and are discussing the offense with the new coaching staff, which includes OC Bill O’Brien, whom Jones helped acclimate to Alabama when the ex-Texans HC took over as Nick Saban’s play-caller. The Pats still expect Jones to win the job, Howe notes. As this quarterback matchup comes at a time in which Kraft has not exactly spoken glowingly of Belichick’s recent efforts, this will be a fascinating offseason in Foxborough.
What does it say about Belichick that his starting QB was so lost last year he had to reach out to his college coaches for help? And instead of admitting his mistake in hiring a former DC as OC, he doubles down and puts Jones in the doghouse. Brilliant.
Thank you. Well said.
Hoody’s empire is imploding.
The only person who put Jones in the doghouse was Jones himself. Why reach out to coaches that aren’t good enough to land a job in the top league? In any event, has there ever been a time that the backup QB hasn’t appeared as the popular option when a team is struggling?
Good captains don’t jump off the ship when it’s sinking. They stay with their crew
Good leaders admit their mistakes, accept responsibility, and don’t throw their people under the bus. Putting Patricia in the OC position was a disaster.
Seems that if you even slightly disagree w/ Bill, you’re cut. Players only. Retread coaches can do as they please.
link to sports.yahoo.com
Okay, and they let him go as a result. Isn’t that Belichick admitting the mistake and accepting responsibility? They went out and brought in a good offensive coordinator and the one that Mac Jones would be most comfortable with. They’re still putting Jones in a position to succeed, and it appears that ProFootballTalk “rumor” was complete garbage since no one else heard anything about a potential trade. Mac will be fine.
Ads going crazy on this app lately!
Putting a DC in the role of OC the season after Josh McDaniels was OC is probably the dumbest coaching move I’ve ever seen, how can Belicheck even be upset when Jones was setup for failure? Preposterous notion, has the game passed Bill by?
Maybe he’s just cashing checks and taking care of his buddies.
There comes a point when you’ve been around for too long.
Watching the pats implode and the empire burn around pats fans ears has been extremely gratifying
Jealous
Jealous of a dumpster fire? Hardly
A dumpster fire with 6 rings…
Also didn’t they make the playoff 2 years ago? and was what, 8-9 last year? Not really a “dumpster fire” now is it?
I know people hate the Patriots, sure have at it, but you always have to admit Bill has 6 rings, regardless of who is quarterback, he still has 6 rings.
I don’t think i would say Jones took a step back last yr any player who played for fat boy and clueless Joe would’ve looked just as bad
If the pats have any chance this yr or next they need to sign LJ because if the coach hates Mac like we all see and it’s highly unlikely that Kraft will fire BB before he gets the win record their going to be in the same position for the next 2-3 yrs
I read so many articles that say Mac Jones took a step back. No he didn’t. Belichick sabotaged and railroaded him. There’s no QB in the NFL that would’ve thrived in that chaotic experiment of insanity last season. Mac had every right to seek help elsewhere. It’s his career after all, and if Belichick is going to intentionally ruin it to stroke his own ego, then Mac needs to do what he needs to do. Loyalty goes both ways.
I’m not sure how many of you remember the Stabler/Pastorini trade, but the comments from both sides were very similar. Sources from the Raiders side said they couldn’t believe how poorly trained Pastorini was. And sources from the Stabler side said he had to completely rebuilt the Oilers playbook.
This situation reminds me of that.
I do, but I’ve never read that before. Very interesting.
Regardless of Bill’s stupid decisions, Jones is never leading anyone to a Super Bowl.
As a Belichick supporter he’s losing his marbles.
Really looks bad for him.
It’s time for Belichick to retire