Category: Mac Jones

Former opponent that wished ‘happy hunting’ on Mac Jones now defending him

Who saw this coming?

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has come under fire for his low block on Cincinnati Bengals corner EIi Apple in Week 16.

Now, one surprising player is coming to Jones’ defense.

Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns and Jones were involved in an incident in 2021, when the quarterback appeared to twist Burns’ ankle. Burns did not take kindly to the incident at the time, wishing ‘happy hunting’ on Jones to opposing defenders. The two reconciled and have put the incident behind them. Now, Burns is in Jones’ corner.

Reaction has been swift and strong in regards to Jones’ block, with the video of the play itself going viral on Twitter. However, Burns did not seem to think the block was malicious, as he told FOX Sports’ Sheena Quick.

“I don’t know. I think he was just trying to draw a penalty, like push him back or something. I don’t think it was nothing crazy,” said Burns.

 

Jones was fined $11,139 by the league for his play on Apple. Some think the fine was a good enough punishment, while others might believe more should have been done to the second-year quarterback.

In either case, the Patriots—and particularly coach Bill Belichick—are ready to put this entire incident in the rearview.

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Mac Jones showed support for former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa

Mac Jones showed support for the injured Tua Tagovailoa on Thursday.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is showing support for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is slated to miss Sunday’s game due to being in concussion protocol.

It was announced on Wednesday that backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be starting in his place.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He performed well when the Patriots faced him in the season opener on September 11. He went 23-of-33 on the afternoon, throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown. The quarterback also completed 69.7 percent of his passes.

Jones showed his support for the Dolphins quarterback, as he met with the media on Thursday, per NESN’s Dakota Randall.

‘Yeah, I love Tua,” Jones said. “I think he’s just a great dude. I was fortunate to learn from him and be his friend, obviously, at Alabama. Obviously, had kind of a tough year here with the injury stuff but also has had a great year. Has played really well in almost every game.

“So, tough to hear that news. I have all the respect for him, his family, his brother, everybody. It’s a great family. I hope he feels better.”

The Patriots will look to defeat Miami on Sunday and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Miami still has several playmakers available, including their two top receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. New England will have their work cut out for them, as they look to remain in the playoff hunt.

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Mac Jones responds to being called ‘dirty player’ for low block

Mac Jones commented on his controversial low block on Bengals cornerback Eli Apple.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is under fire for what many are calling a dirty play, and the quarterback explained himself during his appearance on WEEI Monday.

Jones went to block Cincinnati Bengals corner Eli Apple on what was originally called a fumble. It was later deemed an incomplete pass, as the Patriots were trying to make a comeback with 6:18 left in the game. Apple took offense to the block and called out Jones, following Cincinnati’s win.

Twitter called out Jones following the block as well, with the video making its rounds across the platform. Jones explained what was going through his mind during the play, as transcribed by Zach Cox of NESN.com.

“Obviously, I went down in front of him to kind of get in the way, to stop him from slowing down Tyquan, who obviously could make the tackle there,” Jones said. “Just kind of went down in front of him and tried to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy. Just a split-second decision, and there’s a lot that goes into it. You’re out there trying to compete, and it’s a physical game, so just trying to help the team win.

“I have all the respect for Eli and the Bengals. They played a great game. There’s no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play, nor do I believe that when I’m playing quarterback that’s what (the defense is trying to do). I get hit a lot, too. We’re all out there playing hard, and it’s just part of the game.”

Jones will reportedly not be suspended for the hit, but he could be fined for the play.

The loss to the Bengals was another hit to the Patriots’ playoff hopes, and not having Jones on the field would have been an even bigger hit. A win against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday could help right the ship and salvage what many already believe to be a lost season.

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If Tom Brady breaks tablets, NFL legend believes Mac Jones should be able to dispute play-calling

Mac Jones’ fiery passion has the approval of at least one NFL legend.

New England Patriots legend and Hall of Famer Ty Law loves the fire in quarterback Mac Jones, following the team’s 27-13 win against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jones was seen barking at offensive coordinator Matt Patricia during the course of the game. Multiple camera angles showed the quarterback shouting profanities, as he was upset with the play-calling at certain points.

It was a frustrating night for the Patriots offense. Jones managed 235 yards passing and an interception. His 75.3 passer rating was his lowest since he appeared in the Chicago Bears game on October 24. Nevertheless, the combination of the running game and New England’s defense allowed the organization to pick up their seventh victory of the year.

Law appeared on The Greg Hill Show Tuesday afternoon and praised the quarterback for having a fire lit under him, as transcribed by Zack Cox of NESN.com.

“Hell no. I love it. That’s what a leader is supposed to do,” said Law. “He’s supposed to step up. I think he’s doing the right thing. No one says anything when Tom Brady’s breaking tablets. [Has] he earned the right because he’s Tom Brady? Yes, but as a quarterback you have to step up and show the team that you want it. Tell the offensive coordinator that I don?t like this call. There have been plenty of times, [co-host Jermaine Wiggins], on our end that if we didn’t like a call we’d let [Bill] Belichick know, we’d let [former defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel] know, ‘We don’t like this call!’

“As a quarterback and what they’re facing right now, they don’t have a true offensive coordinator, what is a man supposed to do? You’ve got to show that team that, ‘Look I’m the leader. Follow me. Step up.'”

The play-calling on the offensive side of the football has been a hot topic, following New England’s loss to the Buffalo Bills at the beginning of the month. The offense struggled on Monday, and Jones has made it known he has not been pleased.

New England will look to form a winning streak, as they take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon. This is another game with implications in the playoff race, as both teams are fighting to firmly secure themselves in it.

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Mac Jones wants to break the offensive theme for struggling Patriots

Can the Patriots offense change the narrative? Mac Jones isn’t done believing.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones still has confidence in the offense, despite the unit’s struggles.

Jones has thrown for 1,963 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. The quarterback has had an up-and-down year, as he has battled through injuries. The former Alabama star has been consistent since returning from a high ankle sprain he suffered earlier in the season. In his previous two games alone, he has thrown for three touchdowns with no interceptions.

New England’s offensive line has struggled a bit, giving up 32 sacks on the season. That is the 10th-most in the league, which is clearly a big problem for the unit.

Take for instance New England’s two contests against the New York Jets. The Jets were able to sack Jones 12 times over the two-game span. The Patriots are tied with Denver for last in the league in red zone touchdown percentage, per TeamRankings.com.

They hold a shockingly bad mark of 37.50%.

And yet, despite all of these issues, Jones remains confident in his offense to turn it around. However, finishing in the red zone is clearly something he wants to focus on more.

“I think we’ve just got to break the theme here and just keep working,” Jones said, via NESN’s Zack Cox. “That’s all you can do. Together, talk through things. At the end of the day, we’ve got to go out there and execute better. When you watch the film in those critical times and when we do that, we should be able to put the points up. … We’ve been able to move the ball, it’s just getting touchdowns is what we want.”

It will be intriguing to see what New England brings to the table for the game on Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Patriots offense is not fooling many, including Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who offered a blistering critique of the sputtering offense on Thursday. Even still, this matchup against the Cardinals could be an opportunity for the Patriots to finally get back on track.

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Mac Jones has request for Patriots coaching staff after disappointing offensive performance

Mac Jones wants a small favor from the Patriots’ coaching staff.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has struggled in his second season with the team, and he made a request for his coaches after Thursday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

He wants to be “coached harder.”

New England was defeated by the Bills 24-10, in a game that saw the offense struggle mightily.

Jones went 22-of-36 on the evening, throwing for a touchdown and 195 yards. The offense struggled to move the football through the air in what was another frustrating day for the unit. One of the biggest highlights of the game came when Mac Jones found cornerback Marcus Jones for a 48-yard touchdown.

“I think it’s accountability,” said Mac Jones, via NESN’s Zack Cox. “It starts with me. I want to be coached harder. I want to be a better player. The coaches have given us everything they’ve got. They’ve done everything to put us in position to win. But I want to hold everybody accountable, including myself. I think it’s tough, right? You get called out a little bit, you have to admit that you didn’t do your job. That’s part of the game. A lot of that blame falls on me. I didn’t do my best (Thursday night).”

The quarterback wasn’t the only player to voice his displeasures about the offense. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne lamented the team’s efficiency on third down, following Thursday’s game as well.

New England’s offense is reaching a crucial point in the season. There is little room for error, as Thursday’s loss to Buffalo makes a playoff berth far less likely for the team.

They face a steep uphill climb as they take on the Arizona Cardinals in their next game. We’ll see if Jones’ comments lead to change moving forward.

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Patriots QB Mac Jones likes this particular dynamic of the offense

Mac Jones sees potential with this offensive change. Will we see more of it tonight against the Vikings?

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones likes a new wrinkle in the Patriots offense, ahead of their Thanksgiving Day primetime matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

New England has made a concerted effort to use tight ends out of the backfield over the last couple games. Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith saw backfield action on Sunday. Henry was utilized out of the backfield 10 times, while Smith came out in 8-of-34 snaps.

Versatility is something this New England offense could use after scoring only three points with the offense on the field Sunday against the New York Jets. The Patriots have been trying to diversify their play-calling, and this new wrinkle with the tight ends is their way of doing so.

“It was a good little adjustment,” said Jones, via NESN’s Zack Cox. “They’re two really some of our best players right there. They provide, obviously, the ability to block but also to run and catch passes. So two really smart football players. Definitely great to have them on the field together. Definitely provides good stuff that we can do and then it makes the defense — it’s hard for them. It’s a challenge for them. So definitely enjoy those guys. We’ll just continue to do that.”

The use of the tight ends in the backfield may help kick-start the offense, as New England enters a difficult part of the schedule. This offense needs a spark and continued use of the tight ends may help provide exactly that.

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Patriots QB Mac Jones not shying away from obvious needs of improvement

Mac Jones believes the Patriots offense is on the verge of a breakthrough.

The New England Patriots have struggled on offense this season. There are many statistics that can reaffirm that fact, as they have just two offensive touchdowns in their last three games.

Quarterback Mac Jones knows it as well with New England getting set to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.

Jones appeared on Merloni, Fauria & Mego and was able to identify one of the biggest problems facing the Patriots’ offense. Granted, he put together a stronger showing on Sunday against the New York Jets in throwing 23-of-27 for 248 passing yards. But New England was only able to score three points offensively.

Jones knows the team needs to make adjustments, and he pinpointed one specific area to begin doing so.

“Right now, I think [the red zone is] our biggest area where we need to flip the switch and make something good happen,” said Jones. “That’s kind of the goal there, and it’s all about positive plays and just moving the ball forward, right? We’re going backwards too much.”

Jones did say that he felt like the offense was close to figuring it out.

It would certainly help if he continues to play with the same efficiency he displayed against the Jets. He was clearly accurate with the football, completing 85.2 percent of his passes in Week 11.

Nevertheless, getting the ball into the end zone will be crucial, especially with the competition heating up over the next couple of weeks.

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Damien Harris’ impassioned comments show strong locker room support for Mac Jones

Damien Harris’ comments echo great locker room support of Mac Jones.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has had his fair share of struggles this season. It has not been an easy sophomore campaign, as injuries and inconsistent play have bogged him down.

Nevertheless, running back Damien Harris has his quarterback’s back.

Jones had a decent game on Sunday, going 23-of-27 on the afternoon for 246 passing yards, with no interceptions for the second game in a row. His timing has improved, as he continues to battle back from the high ankle sprain he suffered earlier in the season.

And yet, the Patriots offense still struggled to get things going on Sunday, as they only managed to put three points on the scoreboard with Jones and company on the field.

“I’ll let Mac speak on his process and how he handles what’s going on with his situation,” Harris said, via NESN’s Dakota Randall. “But what I can say is Mac is the ultimate leader. He’s an ultimate competitor and he’s an even better friend. I feel very fortunate to have shared the locker room with him twice now. And just watching him grow, watching him turn into a pro quarterback, it’s extra special to me just because that’s my best friend.

“But, you know, just watching his growth and seeing how he’s transitioned, and maturity, the competitiveness, the leadership that he’s gained throughout the years from when I met him when he was a freshman at Alabama, to him being in the second year as a starting quarterback in the NFL. So, I’m truly inspired by him, his story and watching him go out there and improve every single day. And, I’ll speak for myself, but I can say that our entire team feels very fortunate to have Mac as our quarterback.”

Harris has had struggles with injuries of his own.

The running back has tallied 367 rushing yards on the season, and he has also taken a backseat to second-year rusher Rhamondre Stevenson. The latter has assumed the starting role for the Patriots.

Jones will need to continue to progress each week, as the Patriots have a slew of high-quality opponents coming up on the schedule. Even with all of the uncertainty surrounding Jones this season, it’s clear that Harris is still in his corner.

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Dan Orlovsky blames Patriots, not Mac Jones, for offensive regression

Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky strongly believes the Patriots are the problem, not Mac Jones.

Dan Orlovsky isn’t buying the idea that second-year quarterback Mac Jones is the reason for all of the offensive problems right now for the New England Patriots.

Quite the contrary, the former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst believes it’s the other way around. He sees the structure of the offense itself as the culprit that has led to the regression of the player.

Something has clearly happened considering Jones was a Pro Bowl quarterback in his rookie year. Now, people are debating whether or not he’s worthy of starting over rookie fourth-round draft pick Bailey Zappe.

The last two seasons are like a night and day comparison for Jones.

“If anyone tells you it’s Mac Jones’ issue in New England they’re out the freaking minds,” Orlovsky posted on Twitter. “This offense has completely regressed this player, and it’s awful.”

It’s hard to ignore the fact that the Patriots wrote the book on a 100 different ways to ruin a young quarterback this season.

Jones lost his offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, in the middle of his formative years as a quarterback, and instead of hiring a viable replacement, coach Bill Belichick leaned on familiarity and handed the play-calling duties over to former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

It doesn’t help matters that the offensive line has been a mess to go along with the shaky play-calling. Jones also missed a significant chunk of the season with a high ankle sprain.

There are a lot of reasons to explain why the offense hasn’t taken off yet. The Patriots can only hope to continue to put the pieces together when heading into the bye week and emerge an even better team ahead of their big Week 11 rematch with the New York Jets.

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