Patriots veteran believes in Mac Jones: ‘He’s the future in New England’
Let’s get real. There are not many quarterbacks who will win a Super Bowl in their first year starting like Tom Brady did for the New England Patriots back in 2001.
Well, technically it was his second season in the NFL, but he had to sit a year and learn behind Drew Bledsoe. Mac Jones, on the other hand, was thrown right into the fire his rookie season. Because he had success and helped lead the team to a Wild Card Game, expectations were high for Jones in Year 2 of his NFL career.
He jacked himself up physically and with a year under his belt running the offense, 2022 was supposed to be an improvement, except that it wasn’t. The team not only made a couple of moves that weakened the offensive line, but Patriots head coach Bill Belichick also decided to replace offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with a defensive minded coach in Matt Patricia who, as it turned out, couldn’t really run an offense at all.
New England Patriots Mac Jones had a lot to overcome in 2022
Through that frustration and a high-ankle sprain, Mac Jones went through a season of regression that has led to questions as to whether he is even the future of this football team. From trade rumors to ideal thoughts of Belichick preferring to roll with Bailey Zappe or almost anyone else, Mac Jones do have some believers on his side. That includes Patriots owner Robert Kraft and veterans like Devin McCourty.
Appearing on NFL Network’s “Good Morning, Football!” on Monday, McCourty was asked about Jones and how he viewed a season that wasn’t too kind to his quarterback.
"“I think he’s the future of New England. Any doubts, I think you’re wrong if you don’t think that. He’s in that building right now doing different things, working with guys, talking to guys; that’s what he wants,” McCourty said, as transcribed by WEEI."
While there are and will be doubts as to whether Jones is the leader, he deserves to have a chance to prove he’s the guy in this third season under a real offensive coordinator.
That stability is what excites McCourty about what is to come with Mac Jones working with a mind like Bill O’Brien. With a few upgrades on offense, it should be a better season from that standpoint along. Add to the fact Jones will have something to prove to his doubters and his own head coach, it will be a very interesting year.
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Label him a dirty player, a whiney player all you want, if players like McCourty and Matt Judon see the potential in Mac Jones as a leader and someone who can lead the offense, then he must have it in him or has shown it.
He is also someone McCourty says is passionate ab out winning. Coming from a player who played most of his career practicing against Tom Brady, there is reason to believe in what the Patriots safety feels about Mac.
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On the flip side, he will need to go out there and show it on the field and show that he learned from his 2022 NFL season both on the field and off. If he does, he will prove McCourty right…if he doesn’t then doubters will have something to gloat about.