Patriots news & rumors: Mac Jones time is now
Mac Jones could mess around and game manage his way into the playoffs this season
The rookie QB has officially been anointed the future in New England
Mac Jones is now the man in New England.
It’s official, the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft will lead the Patriots into the future as the franchise guy starting Week 1 against Miami. The Boston Globe initially reported the story.
The Patriots not only named Jones the starter but also released former MVP Cam Newton in what many believe is an effort to make the transition to league starter as smooth as possible for the former Alabama quarterback.
While many will focus on what this means for Newton’s career moving forward, there will be a similar curiosity centered around Jones and his ability to be “that guy” in New England for the next 10 to 15 seasons.
It’s obvious that Jones has impressed so far, but throwing in practice and preseason games can be way different than lining up against Pro Bowl cornerbacks like Miami’s Xavien Howard and Byron Jones on Sundays.
The Patriots are a solid team that has many playmakers returning on their defense after sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID.
Jones won’t have to be in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation for the Patriots to make the playoffs, but if he’s anything close to the way he’s looked so far, they might be able to challenge Buffalo for the division crown.
The AFC is a gauntlet with a ton of good teams, so it will be no small task if Jones can get this team to the playoffs. I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw him start strong but struggle midway into the season. However, I believe the playoffs can be achievable for this squad if Jones proves to be an efficient game manager in his first year and doesn’t make too many mistakes.
I see Jones hovering around 20-25 passing touchdowns, 3,500 passing yards, and 10 interceptions. Those should be good enough to put the Patriots in a great position to fight for a wild card spot in the AFC.
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Cam Newton released: Patriots’ Josh McDaniels explains why the team chose Mac Jones as starter for 2021
It doesn’t sound like it was a difficult decision in New England
There’s always a surprise or several when all 32 NFL teams are forced to carve down their rosters at the end of each August, and this time it was Cam Newton getting some unexpected news. The New England Patriots sent the former league MVP packing Tuesday, ending his short stint with the club and effectively coronating rookie first-round pick Mac Jones as the heir to Tom Brady going into the 2021 season. By all accounts, Jones led the QB1 race for much (if not all) of camp while Newton had two poor preseason outings that helped make the Patriots decision for them.
And while head coach Bill Belichick contends Newton being unvaccinated played no part in the move, the 32-year-old was recently banned from the team’s facility for five days due to a miscommunication with COVID-19 testing protocols — further opening the door for Jones, even if only by way of added first-team practice reps.
In the end, the Patriots are now Jones’ team, and on Wednesday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels explained why.
“When you look at the whole body of work since he’s gotten here, he’s been well-prepared each day to come in and do the things we ask our players to do,” McDaniels said of Jones, via Mike Giardi of NFL Network. ” … He’s improved. He’s generally taken care of the football.”
Patriots news & rumors: Mac Jones time is now; Newton Cowboy ready
Tom Brady is not walking through that door, but Mac Jones is. As Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots found a way to dominate headlines on NFL cutdown day, the man walking out that door is Cam Newton.
It was a surprising move, but obviously not a shocking move given what the young quarterback brings to the table, but the surprise was more Belichick deciding to go for the rookie over the energetic veteran whose best days are still reminiscing in the glory of 2015.
It really is quite that simple, Mac Jones won the job in the eyes of everyone still not basking in the glory of Cam past. Fans knew it, critics knew it, the Patriots locker room knew it and finally, the coach admitted it with the move.
Patriots players love them some Mac Jones
Speaking of teammates, while there was obviously love for Cam Newton, veterans like James White acknowledged what they have in a young quarterback growing more confident by the day.
“You can tell he has what it takes from the first practice with him,” White told the media, as transcribed by WEEI. “He’s constantly learning, constantly trying to improve. He’s tough on himself but I think he has high expectations for himself and when he comes into the huddle, he wants to control the huddle and make sure that everyone who’s in there with him believes in him. He’s building confidence each day, trying to improve each and every day. Because there is a lot of stuff that a quarterback has to do. He’s constantly in the film room, constantly asking questions trying to find ways to improve.”
NFL rumors: Will Cam Newton go from Patriots to Cowboys
While Mac Jones being named starting quarterback for the New England Patriots wasn’t shocking, the big surprise with Tuesday’s news was the release of Cam Newton.
Mac Jones
Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL).
(born September 5, 1998)
He played college football at Alabama where he was recognized as a consensus All-American in 2020, among other accolades, en route to winning the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Jones was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.