It’s no secret that Mac Jones ruffled some feathers with the way he handled challenges during his sophomore season in New England.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Jones “rankled” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his offensive staff with the way he handled adversity during the 2022 season. So much so that Breer says, “Jones lost support in the building with the way he managed the challenges of the season.”
Jones has the public backing of owner Robert Kraft, but Belichick has been non-committal about the prospect of Jones starting over Bailey Zappe. Yes, Jones has started every game when healthy and this could be typical of Belichick, not wanting to reveal anything, as he typically plays things close to the vest. At the same time, it’s not typical for tension between Belichick and a player — particularly his starting quarterback — to be played out in the media.
Recently, a report broke that Belichick has shopped Jones to multiple teams this offseason. According to PFT’s Mike Florio, the list of teams Belichick reportedly called includes the Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers, and Commanders.
While those around the Patriots organization have vehemently denied the claims of Jones being shopped, it’s hard to ignore the fracture in the relationship between the two. Whether the relationship can be repaired remains to be seen as the Patriots prepare for another season beyond the Tom Brady era.
[Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Talk]
