Is it Zappe time in New England?
That was the question waiting for New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick when stepping to the podium after a 34-0 shutout loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
For a second straight week, Belichick made the decision to bench quarterback Mac Jones for backup Bailey Zappe. That has led to some speculation that the Patriots are getting closer to naming Zappe as the starter in an effort to shake things up for their sluggish offense.
That move could come at some point, but for now, it would appear as if Belichick is sticking with Jones as the starter. When asked if Jones was still the quarterback for the team, Belichick backed up his former first-round draft pick.
“Yeah, there were a lot of problems. Certainly wasn’t all on him,” said Belichick after the game, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Question: Is Mac Jones still your quarterback?
Bill Belichick: “Yeah, there were a lot of problems. Certainly wasn’t all on him.”
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 8, 2023
Zappe is no savior, either.
That’s obviously a tough pill to swallow for Patriots fans desperately hoping for change. Keep in mind, the Patriots cut Zappe back in August before the start of the regular season.
He cleared waivers and landed back in New England, but they were willing to risk another team signing him. That alone shows where they are in the spectrum of believing that Zappe is the answer.
Jones has played awful under center, but he also hasn’t been able to overcome a bad offensive line, struggling receiving corps and inconsistent run game. It’s a bit far-fetched to think Zappe would fare any better.
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