EAST RUTHERFORD — The Patriots are a shell of what they as soon as have been in all however one space: Head coach Bill Belichick, and his quarterbacks, are nonetheless among the many NFL’s finest in deflecting when requested direct questions.
After a two-week thriller over who would begin at quarterback for the Patriots, Mac Jones took the primary snap of the primary half. Backup Bailey Zappe was inserted into the sport for the primary snap of the second half.
“Yeah, I thought both guys deserved a chance to play,” Belichick mentioned after the 10-7 loss to the Giants about his choice to start out Jones.
Belichick was requested if the plan was to play Zappe within the second half or if that call was based mostly on the results of Jones’ play. The Patriots’ starter threw two interceptions — one close to the top of the primary quarter and one other in the direction of the top of the second quarter.
“Told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick mentioned. “I thought they both deserved to play.”
Jones, who was benched for the fourth time this season, completed 12-of-21 for 89 yards with two interceptions. Zappe was 9-of-14 for 54 yards with an interception.
Belichick wouldn’t identify a starter for the Patriots’ Week 13 matchup in opposition to the Chargers.
“We just finished the game,” he mentioned.
He would possibly have to determine between Jones and Zappe once more. The staff reduce third-stringer Will Grier on Saturday. He should clear waivers Monday at 4 p.m. for the Patriots to convey him again. Malik Cunningham advised the Herald that he hasn’t practiced at quarterback since Week 6, however Belichick answered, “I think there’s an opportunity for everybody” when requested if Sunday’s outcome might result in snaps for the rookie.
It’s additionally unclear when gamers discovered who would begin Sunday’s recreation. Belichick claimed he didn’t bear in mind.
“Sometime during the week,” he mentioned.
Belichick did say that he advised quarterbacks earlier than they traveled to New Jersey.
Tight finish Hunter Henry mentioned gamers discovered, “today, when we went out.”
Wide receiver DeVante Parker mentioned, “They announced it, like, the day of or something.”
Parker mentioned he didn’t discover that uncommon.
Neither quarterback would disclose after they discovered who would begin.
“I think that’s a — private conversations that we have during the week,” Zappe mentioned. “I think that’s a question for Coach Belichick on when he made the decision. But I’ll keep that between us and the coaches.”
“We had talked about it,” Jones mentioned. “Like you just brought up, you have to take advantage of the reps you get in practice. Just got to do a better job translating it.”
Jones and Zappe cut up first-team reps throughout the week. Players mentioned that the 2 quarterbacks had already been rotating in observe, so it was nothing new.
Jones was requested if he believes he was put in the most effective place to win since he wasn’t taking all the high reps in observe.
“Yeah, it’s my job to go out there and play well regardless of the circumstance,” Jones mentioned. “There’s no excuses not to. I had a few bad throws and just wasn’t on the same page with the offense today. So, I’ve got to do a better job creating that standard and making sure we communicate.”
Jones and Zappe would each reply how they discovered Jones could be benched and Zappe would begin the second half.
“As far as I know, we walked into the locker room, and OB (offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien) looked at me and said, ‘Hey, you’re starting off the second half.’ I said, ‘Yes, sir,’ and that’s really about it,” Zappe mentioned.
“Coach O’Brien told me I was out and I understood,” Jones mentioned. “I wasn’t moving the ball. I wasn’t scoring points. I understand why that happened.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com