Category: Mac Jones

Former Patriots coach thinks Mac Jones faces long road to earn back respect

A former Patriots coach thinks Mac Jones has some work to do to earn back respect in New England.

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Former New England Patriots coach Eric Mangini appreciates Mac Jones taking accountability for the 2022 season, but he still believes the third-year quarterback has a long ways to go to earning back the respect of everybody in the Patriots’ building.

Mangini spent six seasons with New England from 2000-2005. He spent those years on the defensive side of football and was a key part in helping the organization win three Super Bowls.

As for Jones, he will be looking to bounce back from a difficult season last year. He passed for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The former first-round draft pick regressed a bit from his Pro Bowl rookie season in 2021, and he now enters a pivotal third year. The Patriots have new offensive weapons and a new offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien. So there’s an opportunity for him to turn things around this season.

He recently talked about earning the respect of everybody in the building again, which is what Mangini alluded to when speaking with the 33rd Team’s Trey Wingo, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Greg Dudek.

According to Mangini, there was a lot of respect given to Jones upon arrival in New England, and it’s going to take more than an offseason statement or a social media post for him to get that back.

“I like what he said. I like it a lot because I’ve always felt that Mac didn’t appreciate how good a situation he came into,” said Mangini. “He had Josh McDaniels, he had Mick Lombardi, a great offensive staff, he had as stable an organization as you could get. He had a team that played complementary football. He came from a program that was similar. It was a perfect situation for who he was. And then Josh McDaniels leaves, he talks about, ‘Oh, I’ve had multiple coordinators. It’s not that big a deal.’

“There was a little arrogance to the way he approached things. And then he found out how hard it is to win consistently in this league, and how tenuous your position is and that you probably shouldn’t go outside the New England Patriots organization if you don’t like what’s going on.”

The 2023 season will undoubtedly be a challenging one, as New England has the hardest schedule in the NFL. Nevertheless, a cohesive coaching staff and an offense in which everybody is buying into should make things a little bit easier.

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Mac Jones has one particular goal heading into 2023 season

Mac Jones is looking to earn back his respect in the 2023 season.

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New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had a rough 2022 season, and now he is working harder to turn the page and progress forward in 2023. The third-year signal-caller wants to do everything he can to gain the respect of his teammates.

Jones had an up-and-down 2022 campaign. Between offensive inconsistencies and poor overall play on the field, the quarterback really struggled last year.

Things have changed a little bit over the last several months, starting with the Patriots introducing Bill O’Brien as the new offensive coordinator. That move should make things a bit easier for Jones, who is entering a crucial third season. Perhaps even more than the offensive aspect of things, Jones is looking to earn the respect of those in the locker room.

“I’m going to do everything I can to earn the respect of everybody in this building again,” said Jones, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Jones will have to bounce back in a year that sees a difficult Patriots schedule in a tighter AFC East division. A bounce-back season could put the Patriots in a solid position come playoff time.

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Patriots TE Mike Gesicki shares initial impression of Mac Jones

Mike Gesicki shared his thoughts on Mac Jones.

New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki shared his first impressions of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones with the media on Thursday.

Gesicki comes to New England as one of the team’s big free-agent signings. He is coming from the Miami Dolphins after tallying 32 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns last season. He is looking to become a passing weapon for Jones, who is looking to have a bounce-back 2023 campaign.

Gesicki may feature into the offense quite a bit. New England reportedly views him as a pass-catching tight end as opposed to a blocking one. So far, the tight end has a positive impression of Jones, as he told the media on Thursday.

It will be intriguing to see what type of role Gesicki plays. He is a quarterback’s best friend with his athleticism and 6-foot-6 frame. Here’s to hoping it all comes together in New England.

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JuJu Smith-Schuster throws full support behind QB Mac Jones

JuJu Smith-Schuster admired Mac Jones’ leadership, even before he signed with New England.

New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had high praise for Mac Jones on Tuesday when speaking with Patriots media members for the first time.

Smith-Schuster was brought in by the Patriots during the first wave of free agency in March. He is coming to a Patriots team that could use his 2022 production. He tallied 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns. He is part of a revamped New England wide receiver group that includes the likes of tight end Mike Gesicki, along with a player looking to make a second-year leap in Tyquan Thornton.

Smith-Schuster met with the media and showed the utmost confidence in Jones, who is looking to bounce back after a difficult 2022 season.

“For Mac, the sky is the limit. I think with the guys that we have here and all of the weapons, it’s going to be a fun year,” said Smith-Schuster.

Having Bill O’Brien as the new offensive coordinator should make things easier for Jones. A revamped group of wide receivers and a better offensive scheme will be important, as the Patriots look to keep pace with the rest of the AFC East.

Smith-Schuster will undoubtedly be a part of the equation, as he could potentially fill the role left after the departure of Jakobi Meyers. At the very least, he appears to be on the same page as his quarterback.

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Mac Jones reportedly has ‘ton of support’ in Patriots’ locker room

Despite all of the outside noise, the locker room support for Mac Jones is still strong.

Rumors have been swirling around the New England Patriots’ quarterback position heading into the 2023 NFL draft, with the organization reportedly showing interest in former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

With that being said, Mac Jones still has “a ton of support” from the locker room and his teammates.

Jones had a difficult season in 2022. He threw for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. This offseason was a tough one for Jones, as his name has been brought up in multiple reports regarding turmoil last season.

Things may be different for Jones in 2023 with the Patriots adding offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to the staff. They have also managed to get new weapons for Jones in wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki. The organization could add another weapon at wide receiver via the draft, with several wide receiver prospects meeting with New England during the pre-draft process.

Although the NFL is a league of change, one thing that has not changed is Jones’ support from Patriots teammates.

It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do on Thursday, as Jones enters a crucial third year. Help could be on the way.

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Mac Jones isn’t afraid of competing with Bailey Zappe, per teammate

Everyone competes in the NFL, and Mac Jones is ready to do the same, according to a teammate.

The New England Patriots will enter the 2023 season with quarterback Mac Jones looking to bounce back.

One Patriots player, according to NFL insider Mike Giardi, reportedly has the utmost confidence in Jones heading into next season, particularly when it comes to a possible spring and summer competition with backup Bailey Zappe.

Jones recorded 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2022. He struggled at the beginning of the year but was able to find his groove towards the back half of the season.

Nevertheless, New England lost three out of the final five games of the season, including the season-finale in Buffalo on January 8.

With new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien at the helm, things may change. An anonymous Patriots player showed his support for Jones, via Giardi.

This could be a pivotal year for Jones and the rest of the Patriots, as they look to make noise in a talented AFC East division. At the very least, Jones clearly has the support of his teammates. `

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Patriots QB Mac Jones comments on expectations under Bill O’Brien

Mac Jones opened up about his new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones seemed excited for a fresh start under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, when speaking at a volunteer event at the Boys and Girls Club of Metro South in Brocton.

Jones had a difficult 2022 season, throwing for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Although those statistics may not seem terribly bad, there were multiple problems both on and off the field. Jones reportedly sought outside help for advice on the offense in what was a bumpy year for the quarterback and the Patriots organization as a whole.

Now, Jones is putting all of that behind him and looking for a fresh start under O’Brien, who was New England’s offensive coordinator in 2011 and served multiple roles for the team before that.

The quarterback is looking forward to the change, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Zack Cox.

“I think we’re all excited for this next year, and it just starts with putting your head down and going to work,” Jones told WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton, per Cox. “We’ve got a great group of guys, and it’s all about how you come together as a team — players, coaches, everybody.

“So I’m excited to work with [O’Brien], and I know we all are, and it’s gonna be a great year. We’ve just gotta put the work in.”

It will be intriguing to see what wrinkles O’Brien adds to the offense.

New England added a bunch of weapons to that side of football this offseason, and they may add some more at the 2023 NFL draft. This will be an important year for the organization, as the Patriots look to keep pace in what is becoming a crowded AFC East division.

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Patriots players reportedly ‘not happy’ with Mac Jones trade talk

Patriots players appear to be growing tired of the Mac Jones trade rumors.

Trade rumors have been swirling around New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, and some Patriots players are not happy those rumors are continuing to rise.

NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, via Darren Hartwell, reported that players were not happy about a Jones trade being discussed in the public eye.

The quarterback had an up-and-down season in 2022, recording 2,997 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Things were rocky last season, and more information has come out in recent weeks.

From Jones reportedly seeking outside help behind coach Bill Belichick’s back to trade rumors, the speculation surrounding the third-year quarterback has been a hot topic in the media.

“Folks in the building understand he was in an adverse situation, and that is putting it gently,” said Perry. “It’s really difficult to hold it against him that he tried to fix it on his own. This is how people view this: Mac Jones felt as though he had exhausted all options available to him in the building, so he went out and pursued improvement elsewhere. And he might be punished because of that? He might be traded because of that? That’s him writing his own ticket out of town? There’s an absurdity to all of this that is not lost on Patriots employees.”

It would be hard to disagree with the players, as the Patriots look to turn the page to the 2023 season. It is a crucial season for many, and any reminders about last year would probably be better left alone.

With one of the hardest schedules in the NFL, New England will certainly have their work cut out for them next season. Nevertheless, this could be the year that Jones shows he could be a key piece for the Patriots’ future.

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Did Mac Jones feel like Bill Belichick’s guinea pig in 2022 season?

Bill Belichick obviously wasn’t the only one unhappy with the way things went last season.

There might have been some tension between New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones during the 2022 season.

A report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicated that Jones was reportedly not a fan of being Bill Belichick’s “guinea pig” offensively. Florio wrote:

It also pissed Mac off to be the guinea pig for Belichick’s unrestrained hubris.

Jones and the offense struggled last season. They ranked last in the league with a 42.22 red zone touchdown percentage. Efficiency was a major issue for the Patriots in the red zone, and that led to frustrations overall.

It remains to be seen how this will play out for next season. Trade rumors are swirling regarding Jones, and all this information will undoubtedly make things a bit awkward for everybody involved.

This is a storyline worth watching, as the Patriots continue to make moves throughout the course of the offseason. Will a Jones move happen? That remains to be seen.

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Shannon Sharpe believes Mac Jones should leave New England

Shannon Sharpe doesn’t think the Patriots put Mac Jones in a position to be successful.

Rumors have been swirling about New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. From discontent with the way Bill Belichick ran the offense last season to trade rumors, Jones has been a hot topic this week.

Now, one analyst believes Jones should demand a trade out of New England.

Shannon Sharpe took a passionate stance on Jones’ status on FOX Sport’s “Undisputed” Wednesday. To say it was a tumultuous year for the Patriots in 2022 would be generous. Belichick hired former defensive coach Matt Patricia to be an offensive play-caller, and Jones regressed as a result. He threw for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Sharpe lashed out at Belichick and came to the defense of Jones.

“Yup,” said Sharpe.” “If I’m Mac Jones, it rubbed me the wrong way that you’ve got somebody who’s never called offensive plays in their life, and now all of a sudden, he’s my coach. Put him on the side of the ball that he’s been most effective at, which is the defensive side of the ball.

“…If I’m Mac Jones, stay there for what? To be belittled, I’m not winning and you’re not putting me in a situation where I can succeed. Yeah, get me up out of here.”

This could prove to be a pivotal year for Jones and the rest of the Patriots offense, as Bill O’Brien now takes over the reins as offensive coordinator. The pressure is undoubtedly on the Patriots organization, as they look to keep pace with the rest of the AFC.

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