Patriots Offensive Lineman Trent Brown: Flip-Flopping on Mac Jones?
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Trent Brown was all over the map during the New England Patriots' disappointing season.
He started 16 games at left tackle. He played some right tackle. He was benched. He even ... endorsed the idea of replacing quarterback Mac Jones. In December, Brown "liked" a social media post suggesting the Patriots - prompted by Jones' shoddy performances - reaching out to former Pats Tom Brady and/or Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.
But after flip-flopping positions on the field and his standing with coach Bill Belichick in the locker room, Brown now seems to be also be changing his tune about Jones. Interviewed by TMZ at LAX airport earlier this week, the former Pro Bowl lineman offered support for his starting quarterback.
"Get off his back," Brown said of Jones' critics. "I love him!"
Furthermore he said of the haters, "They don't really matter. Really, nobody outside of that building matters. It's all about who's in that locker room and who comes to work for us every day. That's it."
The unity - though, granted, in passing - is refreshing considering the 2022 performances of Brown, Jones and the entire Patriots' offense.
Brown made the Pro Bowl as recently as 2019 and last March signed a two-year, $13 contract. But his play was erratic this season, bordering on awful. He gave up eight sacks, committed an NFL-high 13 penalties and was benched in favor of Isaiah Wynn in Week 11 against the New York Jets.
The Patriots scored 17 fewer offensive touchdowns in 2022 than in 2023, a major reason they finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs.
With new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien's arrival, the Pats will have a new system next season. Perhaps they'll also have harmony?
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