Report: Bill Belichick Unleashes Harsh Criticism on QB Mac Jones During Patriots Practice
The evolving relationship between New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones is set to be one of the defining narratives of the 2023 NFL season. In Jones' sophomore year, his highly-publicized displays of frustration on the field and on the sidelines were a major source of discussion in Foxborough. Many interpreted his anger as evidence of discord between Jones and Belichick. Ahead of the draft, rumors swirled that Belichick was even considering trading his starting quarterback.
A recent incident during practice adds a new twist to the Belichick-Jones saga. Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reported that the Patriots' joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday ended with Belichick tearing into his quarterback and instructing the offense to redo a play.
According to Daniels, the Patriots were executing a 2-minute drill that didn't go well for Jones and the offense. Intense pass rush, receivers struggling to separate, and a lack of synergy frustrated Belichick, who was particularly displeased with his quarterback. The drill ended with a field goal by Nick Folk, but Belichick was so incensed that he had the offense return to the field to replay a down.
Jones tried to connect with Kendrick Bourne, but the receiver slipped, and the pass went out of bounds. As Jones walked back to the sideline, Belichick had stern words for the quarterback, evidently unhappy with something in the 2-minute drill. According to Daniels, Jones took responsibility for the error that had drawn Belichick's ire.
Despite the outburst, Daniels reported that Jones had his best practice of the summer the following day in Green Bay, completing 14 of 17 passes against the Packers, with two throws being particularly impressive.
Jones had an outstanding rookie season in 2021, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. However, his sophomore year was a struggle, with only 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 14 games, three of which he missed due to an ankle injury.
As Jones approaches his pivotal third season in Foxborough, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on him. With the added pressure, it remains to be seen how he will respond.
| POLL | ||
20 AOUT | 83 ANSWERS Report: Bill Belichick Unleashes Harsh Criticism on QB Mac Jones During Patriots Practice Should Mac Jones start for the Patriots? | ||
| yes | 41 | 49.4 % |
| No | 42 | 50.6 % |
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