Tag: Mac Jones

Jerod Mayo comments on what went wrong with Mac Jones

Jerod Mayo feels there is enough blame to go around for Mac Jones’ struggles in New England

One of the biggest questions for the New England Patriots in recent years pertains to the rise and fall of quarterback Mac Jones.

He burst onto the scene as a rookie first-round draft pick that helped lead the Patriots to the playoffs and earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2021.

And then things unraveled in 2022.

After losing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Patriots moved defensive coach Matt Patricia to offensive play-caller, and it ultimately sunk Jones’ confidence on the field. Those struggles continued into 2023 until the Patriots finally made the decision to replace the third-year quarterback with Bailey Zappe late in the season.

Newly-hired Patriots coach Jerod Mayo witnessed everything that transpired behind the scenes when it came to Jones. While Mayo admitted confidence was an issue, he didn’t lay all of the blame on Jones, either.

He sees the situation as both the player and coaches being at fault.

“The confidence of a player is very fragile, especially with these players now, like I’m an old man or something like that. But confidence goes a long way, and honestly, as we continue to evaluate as a coaching staff, we’ll see,” said Mayo, when appearing on “The Greg Hill Show”. “But you know these guys can play football, like they’re here for a reason. It’s not like we went over to Brockton High School and pulled some people over here.

“…If you were to ask Mac Jones, he made mistakes along the way as well. Coaching staff, we made mistakes along the way as well. And I’m not just talking about the offensive coaching staff. One thing about Mac, everybody talks to Mac—special teams, defensive players and offensive players. We were trying to help him with that confidence, but I think there’s enough blame to go around.”

There was a period when former Patriots coach Bill Belichick wouldn’t even acknowledge Jones as the starter in New England. Couple that with one of the worst offensive rosters and it was a disaster waiting to happen.

Any quarterback would have struggled under center for the Patriots.

With that said, Jones didn’t help matters with his poor decision-making and wildly inconsistent accuracy on the field. This could all simply be a situation where the player and team weren’t as great of a fit as they initially thought they’d be.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mac Jones reportedly rubbed some the wrong way at Jerod Mayo’s press conference

Not everyone was reportedly happy to see Mac Jones at Jerod Mayo’s press conference

Not everybody was reportedly happy to see New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones at the introductory press conference for newly-hired head coach Jerod Mayo.

Per the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard, Jones showing up to the event in his workout gear “drew a chuckle.”

“He was in his workout gear which is ironic since he cleared his entire locker at the end of the season. Not a single hanger. Completely empty. … I mean, come on man,” the team source told Bedard, via NESN.com. “Everyone’s watched him play, they’ve watched him act like a prima donna. The team is sick of it, everyone’s sick of it.”

Jones, who struggled throughout the 2023 season, was benched late in the year for backup quarterback Bailey Zappe.

The former first-round draft pick out of Alabama hasn’t lived up to expectations in New England. His confidence has waned due to on-field struggles and a clear lack of talent surrounding him on offense.

The Patriots have a big decision to make in the offseason when it comes to Jones’ contract. They could potentially move on with Zappe as the top backup and draft a new quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The team might also decide to stick with Jones in the fourth year of his contract and see if he bounces back under the new coaching staff.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Here’s what Mac Jones said on Bill Belichick-Patriots split

Mac Jones extended his appreciation for former Patriots coach Bill Belichick

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones posted a heartfelt message to former coach Bill Belichick on Instagram, following Wednesday’s split between Belichick and the Patriots.

“Coach Belichick has made such a big impact on my life,” Jones posted. “I grew up dreaming of playing in the NFL and that dream grew even stronger after I watched Coach Belichick and the Patriots win the Super Bowl in my hometown.

“My dream to play in the NFL came true when I was drafted to the Patriots organization and I am grateful to have played for and learned from such a legendary coach. Coach Belichick has impacted me and so many other players in immeasurable ways. I wish Coach Belichick and his family continued success in the future. #ForeverNE”

Jones was the 15th overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft. The Alabama product has recorded over 8,000 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in a three-year career with New England.

Jones added another connection between the Belichick and Nick Saban coaching tree. Now, he will enter the 2023 offseason looking to turn the page in his fourth year, wherever that may be.

It will be interesting to see if Jones is part of the New England quarterback room next season. Things obviously didn’t work out for him under Belichick, but he’s still grateful to the former Patriots coach for getting his foot in the NFL door.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Trent Brown doubts rookie QB could save Patriots from bad personnel decisions

Trent Brown believes a rookie top-three QB would have the same problems in New England

If anyone thinks a top-three draft pick at quarterback would solve all of the New England Patriots’ offensive issues, Trent Brown believes those individuals could be in for a rude awakening, if other problems aren’t addressed first.

“I think he’d see the same set of issues,” Brown said in an interview with NESN’s Dakota Randall, when asked if a rookie quarterback could find success with the current team.

Brown was candid in his responses in Randall’s deep-dive interview with the outspoken offensive tackle, who is set to enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent this year.

Clearly, there have been personnel issues for the Patriots that have spanned multiple years. They’ve whiffed on draft picks, undervalued key positions, lost top-tier talent and made questionable free agent signings. Brown sees the team’s struggles more as a culmination of bad decisions that no longer go unnoticed.

“There just needs to be more attention on signing and drafting good players,” said Brown. “And also understanding that Foxboro is not a vacation spot. You’ve gotta spend some money to get good players, and you’ve gotta spend money to keep your good players in-house. And once they’re in-house, you’ve gotta treat them with some respect and common decency as a human being.”

Brown even took up for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones in the interview. Jones was benched multiple times during the season before finally being replaced by Bailey Zappe.

The former first-round draft pick out of Alabama took a huge chunk of the blame from outsiders, but in Brown’s eyes, he sees a situation where Jones was set up to fail.

He pointed to Jones taking the Patriots to the playoffs as a rookie with a good offensive line and a quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator he was comfortable with in Josh McDaniels.

After that season, the Patriots lost McDaniels to the Las Vegas Raiders and then turned to Matt Patricia, a longtime defensive coach, to coach the offense. That led to a dysfunctional situation that ultimately ended up stunting Jones’ growth.

Yet, those issues were compounded by even more bad decisions on the personnel side of things in the 2022 offseason.

The Patriots didn’t pay center/guard Ted Karras what he was worth, and he ended up signing with the Cincinnati Bengals to help fortify the offensive line for Joe Burrow. And then the Patriots made the odd choice to trade their incredibly athletic veteran guard, Shaq Mason, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“If you pay Ted Karras, who played a hell of a season at left guard before he left to go to Cincinnati, I think that solves an issue,” Brown told Randall. “I think if you don’t trade Shaq Mason, who’s an All-Pro guard, that solves an issue. I don’t think it was necessary for those moves to be made. And then to not really replace them with guys of their caliber.”

It’s hard to refute Brown’s points given the product the Patriots put on the field in a year where the team fell to 4-13 and finished dead last in the AFC East division.

These points are the very reason why a legendary coach like Bill Belichick is sitting on the hot seat with his job up in the air.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mac Jones determined to bounce back in 2024 with Patriots or elsewhere

Mac Jones believes he let people down, but he is determined to bounce back in 2024.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones indicated that he disappointed people in the 2023 season, which was a difficult year for the organization overall.

Jones finished the season throwing for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was benched multiple times throughout the course of the season, as New England struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position.

Jones’ last start came against the New York Giants on November 26. He went 12-of-21 on the afternoon, throwing for 89 yards and two interceptions. It was a microcosm of what was a tough season for the former first-round selection.

The quarterback met with the media on Monday and vowed to do better, wherever his next stop may be.

“A lot of that stuff’s in my control, and some of it’s not. I’m going to do everything I can for my next opportunity, whether that’s here, and really just push forward and continue to be Mac. That’s what it’s all about,” said Jones, via NESN’s Zack Cox.

It’s no secret that Jones has struggled during his time in New England. It’s also fair to say that personnel issues have reared their ugly head over the last couple of seasons.

Whatever the case may be, a change of scenery may be best for both the quarterback and Patriots organization moving forward.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bengals, Ravens, and Rams highlight the list of Eagles’ 2024 opponents

The Eagles konw their opponents for the 2024 NFL season and the Ravens, Rams and Bengals highlight the regular season schedule for Philadelphia

The Eagles’ second-place finish in the NFC East will still give Nick Sirianni’s team what feels like first-place competition in 2024.

With the final regular season Sunday of the year complete, Philadelphia’s 2024 opponents are set, and it’ll be one of the league’s most demanding schedules.

The official schedule with dates and times won’t be revealed until spring, but it is never too early to start planning trips and predict outcomes.

The Morning After…End of an era, or not?

Will the inevitable rebuild in New England include Bill Belichick as head coach?

While New York Jets players did snow angels after beating the New England Patriots 17-3 in Sunday’s regular season finale, Bill Belichick walked off the field for perhaps the last time as Patriots head coach.

It was a sobering moment that brought a rush of emotions for longtime fans of the team. Belichick was the man responsible for building the greatest dynasty in NFL history.

Even for those ready to say Tom Brady deserves the brunt of the credit for the winning, there is no Brady in New England if Belichick didn’t take him at No. 199 in the 2000 NFL draft. Belichick is the architect, and he deserves the utmost respect for his contributions.

But there’s also the reality that the team needs a new direction after a second straight losing season. They finished 2023 with a 4-13 record and last place in the AFC East. Change is desperately needed.

Is it the sort of change that needs to happen without Belichick, or will the team go a different route, while also staying connected with the greatest coach in NFL history?

Here are some leftover notes from Sunday’s game:

Eagles schedule: Home and away opponents for 2024

Here’s a list of the Philadelphia Eagles 2023 opponents as the competition will continue to increase going forward with a second-place schedule after going 11-6

The Eagles’ second-place finish in the NFC will still give Nick Sirianni’s team what feels like a first-place NFL schedule in 2024.

With the final regular season Sunday of the year complete, Philadelphia’s 2024 opponents are set and it’ll be one of the league’s toughest schedules.

The official schedule with dates and times won’t be revealed until the spring, but it is never too early to begin planning trips and predicting outcomes.

Patriots Week 18 inactives: Mac Jones OUT, Nathan Rourke IN vs Jets

Mac Jones is a healthy scratch for the Patriots in Sunday’s game against the Jets

After beginning the season as the starter for the New England Patriots, Mac Jones will finish as a healthy scratch in Sunday’s finale against the New York Jets.

Jones was listed as inactive in the lead-up to the Week 18 matchup, which means Nathan Rourke will serve as the primary backup for Bailey Zappe.

There are questions regarding Jones’ future with the Patriots in 2024, and this roster move only thickens the plot with the team likely looking to move in a different direction at quarterback after the season.

The Patriots are expected to approach Sunday’s matchup as any other game with the typical starters being in the lineup. Along with Jones, wideout Tyquan Thornton and offensive tackle Trent Brown were also listed as inactive.

Here’s the full list of inactives for both teams:

Jones will serve as the emergency No. 3 option for the Patriots, if Zappe and Rourke both somehow get injured. Unless something crazy happens, Jones has officially played his final snap of the season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Report: Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe ‘hardly talk’ to each other

Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe’s relationship might not be as strong as originally believed

New England Patriots quarterbacks Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones might have been cordial with one another, but that relationship reportedly isn’t nearly as close as some might think.

A detailed report from Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald indicated that Jones and Zappe did not have a strong relationship.

Zappe has taken over for Jones as the starting quarterback in the final stretch of the season. He has gone 2-3 during that run, as the Patriots look to close out the season with a win on Sunday against the New York Jets.

Things came to a head after the team was shut out 34-0 by the New Orleans Saints back in October. At that point in time, Jones was benched in-game for the second week in a row, the locker room started to lose confidence and the team turned to Zappe, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Dakota Randall.

The Herald wrote:

The locker room’s confidence in Jones waned significantly after a 34-0 home loss to New Orleans on Oct. 8, the worst home shutout in team history. Around that time, the staff began deliberating a quarterback change, but Zappe, whom Belichick had cut six weeks earlier, undercut his own candidacy by going 7-of-18 for 69 yards in mop-up duty over two games…

Jones and Zappe, whom teammates say are cordial to one another, hardly talk. Instead of rallying to support the starter each week, they are often siloed in their own preparation. Several members of the organization believe they would have benefitted from a veteran backup with experience in more cooperative rooms who could tie the room together.

If anything, this excerpt highlighted one of the bigger problems on offense. The entire unit was up and down throughout the course of the season. This was largely due to a rotating quarterback room and inconsistent play, among other reasons.

Drafting a quarterback could be a point of emphasis for the organization, as they look to get back to their winning ways.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]