New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has once again not ruled out dropping Mac Jones as starting quarterback, stating he'll choose the "best player" for the job.
After impressing in his rookie year with the Patriots, things weren't quite as straight forward for Jones in the 2022 season as he saw a dip in form. A brief spell out due to injury also allowed Bailey Zappe to step in, and the back-up impressed during his four-game cameo as Jones watched on.
There's been a lot of speculation over whether Jones is the right man to lead the Patriots in the future, especially following reports that Belichick wasn't happy with how the quarterback conducted himself last year. Belichick was asked whether Jones would be their guaranteed starter for the 2023 season on Monday, and didn't have a clear answer.
Belichick was quizzed over whether Zappe and Jones would compete for the role next season, or if it would be the latter that gets the guaranteed nod. "Everybody will get a chance to play," Belichick said. "We will play the best player."
However, Belichick made sure to stress that it would be the case for every position, and it's not something that's the Patriots coach hasn't said before. Jones hasn't enjoyed the dream start at the Patriots though, and there have been reports suggesting that the franchise may consider a trade if they don't see him leading the team long-term.
There have been no rumblings of a major decision just yet, but Monday also saw Lamar Jackson break his silence and announce that he's already requested a trade away from the Baltimore Ravens. With the NFL Draft upcoming in April and many teams already finalising offseason trades, Jackson's options have been slightly limited if he is to move elsewhere.
But the Patriots remains one of them, and if they don't fully trust Jones then it's now of never if they are to make a move for Jackson. Belichick may now be used to working with a quarterback of Jackson's nature, but they've lacked a spark since the great Tom Brady left the franchise.
Jackson spoke out about his future on Twitter, after staying relatively quiet since the end of the season. "A letter to my fans, I want to first thank you all for all of the love and support you consistently show towards me," his statement read.
"All of you are amazing and I appreciate y’all so much. I want you all to know not to believe everything you read about me. Let me personally answer your questions in regards to my future plans.
"As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organisation for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value. Any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the Super Bowl.
"You all are great but I had to make a business decision that was best for my family and I. No matter how far I go or where my career takes me, I’ll continue to be close to my fans of Baltimore Flock nation and the entire State of Maryland. You’ll see me again."
