Mac Jones commends Jets’ approach to Zach Wilson situation, casting Bill Belichick in a controversial light

While Bill Belichick had sky-high expectations for Mac Jones as Tom Brady’s successor, the starter put forward a performance that ultimately cost Belichick his job after 23 seasons with the New England Patriots. Now, as Belichick’s future in the league is hanging in the air, Jones’ starter job with the Patriots in New York is also seemingly impossible.

Despite the challenges, the QB is unwilling to shoulder full responsibility for their struggles and early playoff exit. Instead, he dragged the New York Jets’ approach for their struggling starter Zach Wilson.

Mac Jones applauds Jets’ Zach Wilson approach

The relationship between Mac Jones and the New England Patriots hit a rocky patch during their Week 18 game against the New York Jets, culminating in the quarterback venting his frustration over the team’s communication issues.

While playing against the Jets, Jones reportedly praised a Jets staff member for how they dealt with Zach Wilson’s situation, pointing out a clear difference in communication between the two organizations.

On the other sideline, Zach Wilson, who was drafted the same year as Jones, also lost his starting job. But the Jets had been upfront with their struggling quarterback. According to a source who was on the field pregame, the Patriots quarterback was so bothered by his team’s lack of communication, he told a member of the Jets’ staff that he appreciated how their organization handled Wilson’s situation, Daniels of Masslive reported.

Jones’ frustration stemmed from the lack of transparency and communication from the Patriots’ coaching staff. Despite his efforts to improve, including showing up early and putting in extra work on the field, Jones felt overlooked by the organization.

The 25-year-old quarterback found himself benched for good in Week 12, with Bailey Zappe taking over as the starter. Despite his continued dedication to improvement, Jones felt his efforts went unnoticed by the Patriots’ coaching staff.

Leading up to the Week 18 game, Jones was left in the dark regarding changes in quarterback reps during practice. He was only informed of his status as the team’s emergency third quarterback 90 minutes before kickoff.

His discontent extended beyond the coaching staff to his teammates, who expressed their disappointment with his reduced role. Following the season-ending game, Jones faced further scrutiny from his teammates during an introductory session with the Patriots’ new head coach, Jerod Mayo.

Mac Jones’ ‘broken relationship’ with Bill Belichick explained

While Bill Belichick might be hailed as the “best coach” by Tom Brady, the same sentiment is far from shared by young quarterback Mac Jones, who reportedly experienced a tumultuous relationship with the Patriots’ head coach during his second season.

Anonymous sources within the Patriots organization unveiled a narrative of dysfunction between Jones and Belichick over a three-month period. The reported problems started when offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was replaced by Matt Patricia, leading to a clash in offensive philosophies that Jones didn’t agree with.

The signal-caller openly expressed his frustration with the changes in the offensive system, resisting Patricia’s play-calling. The lack of alignment between the quarterback and the coaching staff fueled growing frustration, resulting in a breakdown of communication between him and Belichick.

As the season progressed, the strained relationship started affecting both Jones and Belichick on the field. After getting benched in Week 12 for backup Bailey Zappe, Jones tried to show maturity by openly supporting Zappe. But things escalated, and by Thanksgiving Day, Belichick stopped communicating with the young quarterback.

The offensive challenges went beyond just the issues between the quarterback and coach. They also involved problems among the quarterback, receivers, and offensive line. Amid this, Jones found himself playing outside his comfort zone.

An NFL executive suggested that the difficulties in Jones’ development were largely impacted by having three different offensive coordinators in his first three NFL seasons. The constant changes likely played a part in the quarterback’s frustration and his struggle to maintain consistency in his performance.

Meanwhile, the future of Jones’ career in New England remains uncertain, raising questions about his potential to rebound from the challenges he faced during his second season. 

What’s your take on Mac Jones’ struggle and miscommunication with the Patriots?