Patriots’ Mac Facing Suspension for Sauce Cheap Shot?
Mac Jones appears to have pulled off a different kind of quarterback sneak.
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the New England Patriots' franchise thrower is not expected to face a suspension for Sunday's extracurriculars with New York Jets defender Sauce Gardner. The incident came during the Patriots' 15th consecutive victory over their AFC East divisional rivals, a 15-10 Sunday slugfest at MetLife Stadium.
Jones is alleged to have hit Gardner below the belt, an accusation that the second-year Jet not-so-subtly seconded on social media in the aftermath. But all signs point to Jones missing no time for the confrontation.
Despite Jones' history of "dirty" plays, it's not like he's an honorary member of the NBA's "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons. But it was at least interesting that no Patriots teammates seemed to rush to his defense as he was first slung to ground by the Jets' C.J. Mosely and then again pushed down by Gardner.
"Jones said Monday nothing was intentional," Pelissero said. "The NFL reviews all plays and it's possible, though not certain, that Jones could be fined."
To Pelissero's point, Jones claimed that he did not mean to hit Gardner in what the defender described as his "private parts," chalking things up to a mere "physical play."
"A lot of guys were in there," Jones said per Patriots Country's Mike D'abate. "It’s kind of like the famous quarterback sneak that everybody does. All the guys on both teams are in there and it can get pretty physical.”
Even if Jones has escaped snap count discipline this time, however, the league will likely cast a wider spotlight on Jones moving forward. Several active and retired NFL veterans have been critical of some of Jones' on-field actions, including former Patriots Chris Long (who referred to Jones as a "Top 5 Dirtiest QB all-time") and Jermaine Wiggins.
“When you’re just playing 100 mph, 110 mph and you’re hitting guys, there’s a difference between playing to the echo of the whistle and then being a guy who’s a cheap-shot artist who’s dirty,” Wiggins said during an appearance on "The Greg Hill Show." “When Mac’s chasing or behind a play and a guy’s running behind him and he’s nowhere in the play and then he drops down and cuts the guy, that’s a dirty play.”
For the time being, though expect Jones to be under center when the Patriots (1-2) face off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox), even if his wallet's a little lighter.
