Getty Image / Bryan M. Bennett
The New England Patriots have been involved with numerous rumors throughout the offseason so far. Especially when it comes to the quarterback position.
Some have speculated they could make a move for the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Bill Belichick is upset with Mac Jones for seeking outside help to improve.
Now, it appears Patriots players and employees are ready to put rumors to bed. Specifically the situation regarding Jones seeking outside help.
According to NBC Sports, Patriots players claim that the team was not even coaching Mac Jones. For that reason, he went out of his way to find the coaching he needs.
NBC Sports’ Phil Perry shares what he learned when visiting New England.
“I heard what I would best describe as a collective rolling of eyes from folks with the team on Mac seeking out help and potentially being traded in part because of that. What I’ve been told from a variety of different folks — with the team, formerly with the team, understanding of the situation, watching the situation from afar — they will put it very plainly: They don’t believe Mac Jones was being coached last year, so Mac Jones reached out to people for some coaching.”
That’s a bit of a red flag for the franchise, no? Why wouldn’t the coaching staff attempt to develop their young quarterback?
Perry continues to report that Patriots players are essentially rolling their eyes at the entire situation.
“The rolling of eyes that I hear is when that situation gets laid out, people look at that and say, ‘OK, I get it. You’re not looking for your players to do that. But he wasn’t being coached. He sought out coaching, and now he’s the problem? What are we talking about here?”
If this is true then this is a terrible look for both, the Patriots and Bill Belichick.
Overall, it appears questions arise from the players and employees about the entire situation, per NBC Sports.
“This is how people view this: Mac Jones felt as though he had exhausted all options available to him in the building, so he went out and pursued improvement elsewhere. And he might be punished because of that? He might be traded because of that? That’s him writing his own ticket out of town?
It’s not a great look that the issues from the 2022 season are progressing into the offseason. Typically, teams want to shut off the problems and start fresh with a new season.
But for New England, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“I’ve spoken to players who are not happy that this is in the news, that the Patriots and their potential interest in trading Mac Jones is out there in the public sphere. They aren’t happy on Mac’s behalf; they aren’t happy, period, on their own behalves. They’re not happy that 2022 is bleeding into 2023.
Maybe this team can overcome the issues within the organization this summer. But for now, the entire franchise is just one giant red flag.