Enough is Enough
In what has been an absolute nightmare season for Mac Jones, the first half of Sunday’s game was just more of the same. Jones had two interceptions and a fumble. He was unable to lead his team to any points.
For the fourth time this season, Jones was benched. Bailey Zappe started the second half, and despite leading the team to a rare touchdown on his first drive, the Patriots’ offense sputtered under his leadership as well.
When rookie kicker Chad Ryland hooked a chip shot 35-yard field goal as time expired, the Patriots lost their ninth game of the season, guaranteeing them of a losing record at the end of the year.
Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley said after the game that everyone in the locker room was feeling very frustrated. The sentiment was echoed by defensive end Dietrich Wise, Jr. and center David Andrews after the game.
Bill Belichick was very coy after the game about when the decision was made to have Mac Jones start again this week. He said he didn’t remember when he told the team who was starting. He told both quarterbacks “to be ready to go.” He said both quarterbacks “deserved to play.”
Belichick was questioned about practices this week and if it was fair to both quarterbacks to be left in the dark about who was going to start this week. He was questioned if it was fair to have both quarterbacks split snaps at practices these past two weeks. His response was that it was his job to get the players ready to play and there were enough snaps to go around.
Well, guess what, Bill? For a guy that is fond of saying "do your job,” Belichick has been failing at doing his job and he has been failing for multiple years now. He has failed to develop players. He has failed to assemble a roster that gives him options or any positional flexibility. He has failed to draft players that fill needs. He has even failed at special teams, which he has emphasized far more than any other team in the NFL.
The Patriots are now firmly entrenched in the number two spot for next year’s NFL draft which guarantees the Patriots will be able to draft either Caleb Williams or Drake May, the top two QBs in next year’s draft. There is no way Belichick should be allowed to make that pick. There is no way Belichick should be allowed in the war room to try to negotiate a trade down to get more fourth round draft picks. Lock the door. Change the password on the keypad outside the door. Take his badge away. Do whatever you have to do. The days of Belichick trading down or drafting a projected fifth-rounder in the second round or drafting someone nobody knows from a Division II school are over. The days of listening to Belichick smack his lips, grunt, and be disrespectful and dismissive to reporters are numbered. There is no longer any debate on this. None.
Mac Jones should never have been allowed to start this game after the debacle in Germany. Zappe may not be an upgrade over Jones, but he is something different. After all, we all know the old saying about the definition of the word insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
The Patriots released third-stringer Will Grier prior to the game. Some, including myself, have advocated for starting Grier. Why not? We know what we have with Jones and Zappe. We saw it on display against the Giants. Neither one is good. The season is lost. The team should be in full-out evaluation mode. They shouldn’t be worried about winning or losing, or “doing what is best for the team” as Belichick is fond of saying. It is time to find out who will be on this team next year and who won’t. Play Grier. Play Cunningham. Call Matt Corral and Ian Book back. Play them.
The Patriots may well not win another game this year. I picked the Patriots to win against the Giants despite saying earlier in the year that I wouldn’t pick the Patriots to win another game all year. I, reluctantly, changed my mind for this game. I thought the Giants were that bad that I couldn’t pick them to win. I underestimated how bad the Patriots are. It won't happen again.