The Patriots just scored zero points against the worst defense in the league without Mac Jones in there. In a game and a half with Zappe, they have scored seven points. Bill Belichick is done unless he has pictures of Robert Kraft in the massage parlor, he is done. The Patriots are one of the two or three worst teams in the NFL with or without Mac Jones. The offense is a disaster with or without Mac Jones. The only reason Belichick hasn't been fired already is his dynasty run.
And no one reported that Kraft forced O'Brien on Belichick. Belichick has final say in his coaching staff. Kraft was against Patricia and Judge and allowed Belichick to install them on offense. There were reports that Belichick in his year end meeting with Kraft admitted Patricia and Judge were a mistake and he was going to get a real OC. Based on Belichick track record in recent years of hiring coaches that he is comfortable with and knows he can work with, O'Brien seems like a logical choice. The Krafts like the guy too, but that doesn't mean they forced him on Belichick.
As to whom Kraft is going to hire, I have no idea. Kraft probably has already hired a firm to look for the top candidates. Or it could be Mayo. Teams gets new head coaches and GMs every year, many of them are successful and many aren't. Don't act like there is absolutely no one out there. But it isn't my job to hire the head coach or GM.
And I am not defending Mac Jones. Everyone has moved on from the guy. But the offense didn't even get into the red zone on Sunday never mind scoring. How was that Mac's fault? I don't even know if he was on the sidelines on Sunday. I didn't see him. The problems with this offense goes way beyond Mac Jones. I don't want to see Mac play again and I think the Pats should trade him in the offseason, but Sunday proved he wasn't all the problems with this offense. It is horrible. That is on Belichick.
If Jones was all the problem, they would have won the last two games. They have gone a game and half without him and both games, they lost to teams scoring 10 points. In those six quarters, they have scored seven points.
Again, Belichick and Jones' fates were intertwined and both will be gone after the season.