The New England Patriots have long hailed for their winning culture under the leadership of Bill Belichick. However, the departure of Tom Brady seemingly fell too heavy on them. The team with multiple Super Bowl titles is now also grappling with player’s discontentment with it.
The Patriots wanted to bank on Mac Jones in the post-Tom Brady era, but it never happened. He has been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars after Belichick’s departure from the Pats. Meanwhile, former Patriots’ Jack Jones clapped back at haters regarding Mac Jones recent trade.
Jack Jones takes shot at Patriots over Mac Jones’ move to Jags
Mac Jones’ transition to the Jacksonville Jaguars has ignited a fiery debate, with Jack Jones adding fuel to the fire. Jack’s remarks on social media suggest that Mac’s newfound happiness stems from leaving the Patriots fan base rather than departing from Coach Bill Belichick’s shadow.
“They said mac look happier in Jax lol it was NE it wasn’t bill NE fans 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾x1000000000000”, Jack Jones wrote.
The speculation surrounding Mac Jones’ departure from the Patriots intensified with a video posted by the Jaguars. It showed the quarterback’s relaxed demeanor and playful attitude, reminiscent of his rookie season with the Patriots. He hinted at feeling liberated now that he’s not with the Patriots, even joking about his interest in rap music.
However, anonymous sources within the Patriots organization earlier revealed a narrative of discord between Jones and Belichick. It reportedly began when offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was replaced by Matt Patricia. The clash in offensive philosophies led to tension between Jones and the coaching staff. It later resulted in his benching in Week 12 for backup Bailey Zappe.
The relationship between Mac Jones and Belichick deteriorated further, with communication between the two ceasing altogether by Thanksgiving Day. Nevertheless, Jack Jones thinks even the Pats fan base is liable for chasing away Mac, as they regularly used to aim subtle jabs at the signal-caller last season.
Patriots players unhappy with working condition
The Patriots are facing a challenging time as players express dissatisfaction with working conditions. The latest NFLPA report card saw them plummeting to 29th place from last year’s 24th. Central to the discontent are concerns regarding the treatment of players’ families and the subpar conditions of the team’s weight room in Foxboro, via CBS News.
The Patriots are among the bottom six teams receiving an F grade for family support. Lack of amenities such as a family room during games and daycare support for players’ children on game days is cited as major grievances, which placed the franchise in a troubling minority.
Equally disheartening is the state of the weight room. Players criticized it for its cramped space and inadequate equipment. Last year’s ranking of 31st indicates a deteriorating situation, alienating players who rely on top-notch facilities to maintain peak performance.
This sharp decline in player satisfaction highlights a pressing need for ownership to address systemic issues and prioritize player well-being. The Patriots efforts to overhaul their culture under the leadership of new head coach Jerod Mayo are commendable. However, tangible improvements in working conditions are imperative to foster a supportive environment conducive to success.
