Lambeau Love: Patriots' Mac Jones Offers Advice to Packers' New Starting QB
Set to enter his third NFL season, Mac Jones is hardly in any place to offer advice ... especially with the first two producing such mixed results on the field. What the New England Patriots quarterback is working through, however, would be a valuable lesson for any player.
The Patriots have made their way to the hallowed Lambeau Field facilities to train with the Green Bay Packers this week, culminating in a preseason game Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, WBZ). Though it'll be exorcised from the record books the second the clock hits triple zeroes in the fourth quarter, the game will be the first time the Patriots and Packers play without Tom Brady, Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers on either team's roster since 1988.
Needless to say, Jones is perhaps the active master in succeeding downright legendary talent(s) on the active passing circuit and was asked about the advice he'd offer to Packers' quarterback Jordan Love as he prepares to embark on his maiden voyage as the top man on the depth chart.
Jones is following a legend, as is Love.
“Tom Brady’s the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL,” Jones told the Associated Press. “To follow up on him, it’s trying to chase the standard that he set every day. Honestly, we’re definitely two different players. That’s the only advice I’d have: Just continue to grow and be yourself. That’s all you can do is put your best foot forward and compete. It’s definitely big shoes to fill.”
Unlike Kenny Bania following Jerry Seinfeld, Jones is unable to eat up the success that Brady bestowed before him. While Jones isn't the direct successor to No. 12 (that honor instead going to Cam Newton's brief reign under center), he has become the face of the Patriots' post-Brady era for better and worse. He has regained a relative stranglehold on the top quarterback spot but he's still on thin ice entering a fateful third year.
Love has no idea what Jones is going through ... but he will. The 2020 first-round pick is finally the undisputed starter in Green Bay and has not one but two tough acts to follow: between Favre (1992-2007) and Rodgers (2008-22), the Packers have enjoyed an elongated sense of security at the most vital position in sports.
The Utah State alum has made a single start over his first three NFL seasons, going 19-of-34 for 190 yards while throwing a touchdown and interception in a November 2021 loss in Kansas City. He had better success in mop-up duty on four occasions last season (a 112.2 passer rating on 21 attempts in that span) and went 7-of-10 for 46 yards and a touchdown in last week's preseason-opening win over Cincinnati.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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