Bothered Belichick: Patriots Coach Still Mad at QB Mac Jones?
Rumors of a disconnect between New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones have been plentiful after the Matt Patricia offensive coordinating experiment came to an end this offseason.
In was an offense that has since been described as "dysfunctional," and apparently Joe Judge and Patricia weren't the only coaches Jones had a rocky relationship with in 2022.
According to NBC Sports' Tom Curran, Jones had even gotten into hot water with the head man, Belichick.
“As we know, a disloyalty in Bill’s mind is almost worse than bad play,” Curran said in an interview with WEEI. “Mac, even though you could say it’s ironic because he’s trying to get better and he’s wondering ‘Are we supposed to be doing it this way?’ And he’s asking around the football world about it. That effort to improve was showing up the Matt Patricia-Joe Judge contingent that Bill put in charge. When Bill caught wind of it — he’s still pissed about it.”
So who was the second-year quarterback turning to for help? Maybe his former coordinator, Josh McDaniels? Who knows, even Tom Brady himself? Curran didn't mention details or offer any hints. But, clearly, Jones' actions last season certainly did not sit well with Belichick.
The coach refused to back his quarterback when the rest of the league labeled him a "dirty" player. And at last week's NFL owners meetings Belichick only offered a cryptic answer when asked about the Pats' quarterback position entering the NFL Draft.
“Everybody will get a chance to play,” Belichick said. “We’ll play the best players.”
It is a very Belichickian answer. And it could even be considered classic "coach speak," since every position is typically up for grabs, especially with a new offensive coordinator, Bill O'Brien, in town.
This revelation of Belichick essentially still being upset about how Jones conducted himself during an adversity-filled season makes the Lamar Jackson trade talks all the more interesting as team owner Robert Kraft left it up to his head coach on whether the Patriots will pursue the Baltimore Ravens signal-caller.
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