Patriots Super Bowl Champ Blasts Mac Jones 'Antics'
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had a strong rookie season in 2021, but his second season didn't go as smoothly.
With a new scheme under offensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Jones and the Patriots' offense struggled immensely throughout the 2022 season. Jones saw a decline in essentially all of his important stats, and even missed three games due to injury. On multiple occasions, Jones even argued with coaches out of frustration with the offense's struggles.
Those outbursts generated some heavy controversy, with some prominent figures calling Jones out for them. The latest to voice their criticism over Jones' "antics" was former Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light, who helped the franchise win its first three Super Bowls. Speaking with NBC Sports Boston, Light harshly criticized Jones for letting his emotions get the best of him last year.
"I like the way his rookie season ended. I like the way that he approached the game there," Light said. "I don't like what I saw last season for a lot of reasons. And as an offensive lineman, I don't ever want the guy behind me to ever put himself in a position that Mac did. Just in terms of the antics, the optics."
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Light acknowledges that there is room for a quarterback to criticize the offensive play-calling. After all, legendary quarterback Tom Brady did plenty of that during his two decades in New England. However, Light believes that Jones has not yet earned that same privilege.
"It's bigger than you, Mac," Light said. "It always has been for the organizations and the individuals that do it at the highest level. By the way, not for nothing, you don't think that Tom Brady had the right to do that? But about five years into his 20-year career. And Mac's doing this one year in? You know what I'm saying? So like, compare and contrast the best to ever do it in the history of the game to the guy that took his position, and the things that have happened during these last couple of seasons, and there's just no place for it."
Even with his harsh criticism, Light still believes in Jones as a player. The offensive lineman added that he can see Jones' talent clear as day, although this season will be crucial for his future.
With another new offensive coordinator in Bill O'Brien, who actually has experience leading NFL offenses, and a few new weapons, the Patriots are counting on Jones to rebound to form this season.
