Being the quarterback often means taking the blame for everything wrong with a football team, and Mac Jones has played his role valiantly for the New England Patriots.
Jones has accepted all of the criticism that has come his way regarding the Patriots’ 1-4 start to the season. Whether it’s warranted or not could be argued until the cows come home.
On one hand, Jones has continued to turn the ball over at an alarming rate, and he’s missing reads on the field. But on the other hand, the offensive line play has been so atrocious that Jones barely has time to catch his breath when dropping back to throw. The Patriots also have one of the worst skill position groups in the NFL.
FOX Sports’ Henry McKenna reported a source close to Jones questioning the team around him, following Sunday’s 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
“No matter how good of cook you are, you cannot make garbage taste good,” a source close to Jones told FOX Sports, per McKenna. “Even if it was not Mac at QB, what QB would want to play here under these conditions?”
The situation with the Patriots obviously isn’t ideal for any young quarterback right now.
Coach Bill Belichick has failed to put the right offensive weapons around Jones, and he has created an unstable environment that has led to regression for a former first-round draft pick and rookie Pro Bowler. Jones has had three different offensive coordinators in the last three years. That isn’t ideal for a young signal-caller, particularly one working with limited offensive talent.
Jones might not be a great cook, and the ingredients might not be good, either. It’s possible for both to be true.
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