Fox Host's Crazy Idea For Patriots' Ex Mac Jones in Jacksonville
Fox Sports host Kevin Wildes certainly has a perfect surname when it comes to his Mac Jones takes.
As a co-host on Fox Sports 1's debate program "First Things First," the Connecticut native Wildes has become somewhat infamous for his staunch defense of Jones, the former New England Patriots quarterback who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
To commemorate the transaction, Monday's edition of the program opened with a montage of Wildes' poorly-aged takes on Jones, which included him labeling the 2021 first-round pick the "Baby GOAT."
Jones' trade to Jacksonville has done nothing to curb Wildes' enthusiasm: Wildes appears to legitimately believe that a quarterback controversy is brewing in Duval, reasoning that the Jaguars opted to find another young thrower to backup Lawrence rather than a more experienced veteran capable of mentorship.
"I'm just saying that the idea that there’s this massive gulf between Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones ... I don’t think people have looked at the numbers,” Wildes said to the bewilderment of co-hosts Chris Broussard and Nick Wright. "He's not backing up Patrick Mahomes. He's not backing up Joe Burrow. He's backing up a guy that the numbers look very similar."
David Butler II, USA TODAY SPORTS
The production conjured up a graphic to prove that Jones may have a few advantages in some statistical categories, but the numbers are partly skewed due to the former Patriot's issues in staying on the field. Wildes, for example, gleefully relayed that Lawrence lost each of his final five starts under Jacksonville center last season ... only to admit that Jones had lost each of his own last four and didn't get to finish out the year because he was benched.
It's certainly true that Lawrence has struggled to live up to the massive expectations placed upon him as the top pick of the 2021 draft but there's nothing to indicate that the Jaguars brought Jones in to serve as an early successor. Besides, there's no guarantee that Jones will serve as Lawrence's backup come September, as the incumbent understudy, CJ Beathard, remains under contract.
To Jones' credit, flashes of brilliance occasionally leaked out during his time as Tom Brady's heir, but there was nothing to indicate longevity in the franchise man role.
If/when Wildes' prophecy becomes reality, there's a chance that the Patriots could experience the revolution firsthand, as a road trip to Jacksonville is part of their four-game AFC South slate on the 2024 docket.
