'Move Forward!': Patriots Legend’s Advice for Mac Jones
James White is responsible for some of the most important moves forward in New England Patriots history.
The former running back, after all, is responsible for 20 of the 31 points necessary in the Patriots' comeback from a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LI against Atlanta, scoring three touchdowns (including the overtime winner) and a two-point conversion.
White bestowed similar advice to embattled New England quarterback Mac Jones, whose Foxboro future stands on anything but certain, steady ground. Jones failed to capitalize on a promising rookie season that ended in the playoffs, as the New England offense sputtered under his watch en route to an 8-9 campaign. It got to the point where many observers of both the professional and amateur variety clamored to see fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe take over Jones' spot atop the depth chart, a wish that was briefly fulfilled when the freshman got the nods after Jones sustained an early injury.
The offseason hasn't quelled the calls for Jones' ousting, as the third-year man was the subject of trade rumors leading into April's NFL Draft. With the NFL reaching a relatively quiet part of its offseason period, White encouraged Jones to set his sights on the ultimate immediate prize: Week 1.
“Move forward,” White said on NBC Sports Boston's "Patriots Talk" podcast. “Obviously, everybody’s going to bring up last season and what they saw. Some people are going to be wanting Zappe to be the starting quarterback.
"But move forward. Put your blinders on. Come in the same way you did your rookie season. Put in the work, earn that trust (from) your teammates once again."
White knows what it's like to become a cornerstone of the Patriots' offense: he rose from relative anonymity in the fourth round of the 2014 draft to become one of the most potent dual threats in the NFL, with the Super Bowl serving as his finest hour (setting individual records for points and interceptions in a single title game. He played eight NFL seasons, all in New England, before retiring last August.
Unlike most supposed quarterback controversies, the potential aerial civil war in New England doesn't center upon a lack of trust in Jones from the offense.
"Everybody in the locker room who’s gotten the opportunity to be around him or play with him knows what type of player he can be. I think if he just goes out there and earns the trust of his teammates once again, I think he’ll be just fine," White said before clarifying his comments. "I don’t think it’s ‘re-earn the trust.' I think (he has to) go out there and show them in a sense. I think they all trust him, but you’ve got to go out there and show it in practice and show it week in and week out during the game.”
Jones' potential path to redemption begins on Sept. 10 when the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles visit Gillette Stadium.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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