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(PHOTO: Dec 24, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) checks with head coach Bill Belichick, left, and senior football advisor Matt Patricia, second from left, during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) While Bill Belichick may have said last week that they’re putting everything that happened in 2022 behind them, it sounds like he’s still got some issues that he’s apparently not fully over just yet.
NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran appeared on WEEI on Friday with Jones & Mego with Arcand and talked about the situation with Mac Jones going outside the building last year for guidance, which had been previously reported as having been an issue.
However, while the story may be old, it’s apparently still a sore subject internally that Belichick hasn’t fully moved past it.
“I will say that one thing that’s interesting to watch play out, is just what’s left over from Bill being agitated at Mac for, more than anything else, you know, the yelling and the gesticulations during the games was irritating enough, but Chris Simms alluded to this and I heard it reaffirmed today, going outside the building for council as to ‘Is this the way we’re supposed to be doing this?’,” explained Curran. “That really pissed Bill off, and as we know, a betrayal of Bill, or disloyalty in Bill’s mind, is almost worse than bad play.”
“And Mac, even though you could say, ‘Well, it’s ironic, the guy’s trying to get better, and he’s wondering ‘Are we supposed to be doing it this way?’ And asking people around football about it.’ That effort to improve was showing up the Matt Patricia-Joe Judge contingent and Bill putting them in charge. And when Bill caught wind of it, he’s still pissed about it. So I think a lot of that, how well are they going to be able to bury the hatchet on Mac’s perceived and presumed disloyalty in doing that. And does Bill O’Brien rectify that, or is Bill still itching to teach the kid a lesson?”
Curran was asked if he had heard exactly who Jones had reached out to, and he admitted he wasn’t sure. However, he did reveal that Jones apparently wasn’t alone in his frustrations with the situation on offense and that Brian Hoyer shared his teammate’s concerns.
“I did not,” said Curran on whether or not he knew who Jones confided in. “Could it have been [former Alabama offensive coordinator, Steve] Sarkisian? Could it have been folks at Alabama? Look, Brian Hoyer’s not here anymore. And Brian Hoyer was guaranteed $1.4 of his $2 million contract. The Patriots released him and made it clear that, ‘Hey, we’re moving on because of your head.’ He had been cleared for a long time. He anticipated coming back.”
“Brian Hoyer was not sold on what was going on last year, and I don’t think he really … I think he let that be known that Mac was up against it on a weekly basis, and I think that’s a large portion of why Hoyer’s not here. The Patriots would tell you otherwise, but they’re paying him $1.4 million to not play here and not be part of the system. Even through training camp, and release him in August. You could use him for this offseason. ‘Nope, thanks, we’re all set with you.’ I think it’s interesting.”
Interesting, indeed.
Belichick didn’t give Jones any words of encouragement last week when asked about his quarterback and essentially said everyone needed to be better collectively.
“I think we all can improve,” said Belichick. “All of us. Starting with me and every other player and coach that’s here. That’s for all of us.”
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