Mac Jones and the New England Patriots don’t appear, from the skin trying in, like two events who’re curious about a long-term relationship.
Ignore the debatable particulars of the continued he-said he-said taking place throughout this murky and eyebrow-raising Patriots offseason, and take a snapshot of it from 30,000 toes:
There is an excessive amount of noise and an excessive amount of proof of discord in Foxborough, Mass., to consider that nothing is afoot.
Sometimes a break-up doesn’t require somebody really saying “it’s over.”
This is to not say that Jones gained’t be the Patriots’ beginning quarterback this season. Certainly the percentages are that he might be.
But Lamar Jackson is on the market, and the Patriots maintain the No. 14 general choose on this month’s draft.
So placed on Bill Belichick’s grungy hoodie, step into his tennis footwear, and take into consideration the 2023 NFL season this fashion:
If the AFC East goes to incorporate Aaron Rodgers quarterbacking the Jets, Josh Allen quarterbacking the Bills and Tua Tagovailoa throwing lay-ups to the league’s quickest receiving corps in Miami, is Jones ok to assist the Patriots compete with that?
The Patriots (8-9) completed in third place within the division final season forward of solely the Jets (7-10), and as soon as the Rodgers commerce occurs, they are going to be picked by many because the AFC East’s fourth- and last-place crew.
No one has ever gotten contained in the thoughts of Belichick, however it may very well be argued that it could be negligent of him to not no less than ponder a transfer at quarterback this offseason.
ProfessionalFootballSpeak’s report that Belichick has “shopped Jones to multiple teams during the 2023 offseason” has come underneath hearth as unfaithful from shops plugged into New England’s operation. It is being handled as pot-stirring gossip that PFT cited the Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Commanders as “potential destinations.”
But neglect the semantics and take into account the next proof: does this sound like a salvageable relationship?
Leaks trickled out final season portray Belichick and offensive coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in a nasty gentle. Jones overtly confirmed up his coaches on the sideline at instances by venting frustrations, too.
Jones performed poorly, turned the ball in crucial spots, and got here underneath hearth for taking on-field low cost photographs at opponents. Rookie Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe additionally performed higher than Jones when he went in.
Owner Robert Kraft reportedly made clear he wasn’t happy with the offensive employees. Belichick deserted his ill-conceived experiment and introduced again Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator.
Now Belichick has refused to call Jones the Patriots’ beginning QB to this point this offseason.
Then on the NFL homeowners’ conferences, Kraft revealed rapper Meek Mill had instructed him that Baltimore Ravens former MVP Lamar Jackson needs to play in New England, and Kraft put the choice in Belichick’s arms.
Why did Kraft do this? Why did the proprietor promote his followers hope of probably buying Jackson if the group is firmly behind Jones? Would Kraft be prepared to pay Jackson the contract he’s looking for if Belichick made a commerce occur?
Then NBC Sports’ Tom Curran reported that Jones’ going “outside the building for counsel” final season to double-check parts of the Patriots’ offense “really pissed Bill off.”
Meanwhile, the Patriots held a proper interview on the NFL Combine with Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, they usually have choices, from their draft capital to a younger growing participant in Zappe to the prospect of a blockbuster commerce.
It is all a dizzying quantity of drama, frustration and dysfunction.
There are clearly methods it may very well be resolved. The Patriots and Jones each may proceed in a extra constructive and collaborative course. That may benefit everybody ultimately.
Often in hindsight, nonetheless, folks notice that their breakups occurred properly earlier than anybody really made it official. And that’s what this looks like: a matter of time.
NFL DRAFT: STUDS AND SLEEPERS
Analyst Emory Hunt of CBS Sports and Football Gameplan joined the “Talkin’ Ball with Pat Leonard” podcast to share his studs, sleepers and undrafted free agent picks at 4 key NFL Draft positions: nook, huge receiver, inside O-line and move rusher. Hunt’s full draft information has greater than 1,000 particular person participant scouting stories. Here is a sampling:
CORNER: Stud: Darius Rush, South Carolina — “I’ve never seen someone catch as many interceptions in one-on-one as Rush did at the Senior Bowl.” Sleeper: Justin Ford, Montana — “He has ridiculous ball skills and he’s looking to score the ball.” UDFA: Darius Williams, Texas A&M Commerce — “Reminded me of (the late) Darrent Williams that played with the Broncos. He reached out and said ‘yes, that’s my dad!’ Played just like his dad. This is someone to watch.”
WIDE RECEIVER: Stud: Zay Flowers, Boston College — “His level of explosiveness and burst was otherworldly Shrine Game week. I couldn’t get Tyreek Hill out of my mind.” Sleeper: Colton Dowell, UT Martin — “He was baking Tennessee. He had Tennessee corners in crisis mode.” UDFA: Josh Tomas, Georgetown — “He’s box office. Can impact the game as a receiver and returner.”
INTERIOR O-LINE: Stud: O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida — “He’s NFL ready, day one starter.” Sleeper: Jordan McFadden, Clemson — “At 6-2 you’re not playing left tackle in the NFL. Kick that inside and you have a phenomenal guard prospect. He’s gonna be a star.” UDFA: Philip Grohovac, Western University (Ontario, Canada) — “You watch his tape, he is obliterating guys. More than held his own at College Gridiron Showcase. A tackle that can transition well.”
PASS RUSHER: Stud: Will Anderson, Alabama — “Every time I watch Alabama play, 31 is in the backfield all the time.” Sleeper: D.J. Johnson, Oregon — “A tight end who went to defense and played well. Look at the upside- still learning to play defense with offensive athleticism.” UDFA: Celestin Haba, Texas A&M Commerce — “He altered how they called the rest of the Tropical Bowl scrimmage. Exploded into the QB and they said OK we’re gonna stop the full contact part of it. I’ve never seen a player single-handedly change the format of an event.”
NOT IN THE CARDS
Arizona Cardinals proprietor Michael Bidwill has been accused of gross misconduct, together with dishonest, discrimination and harassment, in an arbitration declare filed Tuesday by former Cardinals govt Terry McDonough to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, ESPN reported.
McDonough mentioned he and former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks, who was fired after just one season on the job, had been left with no alternative in 2018 however to comply with Bidwill’s plan to make use of burner telephones to speak with suspended GM Steve Keim throughout that yr’s coaching camp.
Keim was serving a five-week suspension after pleading responsible to excessive DUI in Arizona. The Cardinals denied the allegations and instructed ESPN the claims had been “outlandish.” The crew has 20 days to reply to the claims.
THEY SAID IT
“The idea that he’s shopping Mac is against everything he would do. But if somebody comes to him and says, ‘I’ll give you a one for Mac,’ does that mean he’s shopping him? No, that just means somebody asked the question. I think we’re in a semantic issue here.” — former NFL GM and Patriots assistant Michael Lombardi, talking about Bill Belichick’s course of, on “The GM Shuffle” podcast
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Source: www.bostonherald.com