NFL star Mac Jones has apparently ‘lost faith’ in two members of the New England Patriots coaching staff.
The 24-year-old quarterback has been the subject of intense speculation over the course of the season over perceived tension with legendary head coach Bill Belichick. Reports have swirled all season about friction between the pair, with the former Pro Bowl star even being benched at one point for young rookie Bailey Zappe.
Going into last season, Belichick decided to revamp his offensive coaching setup, with former offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Josh McDaniels leaving for the head coach role with the Las Vegas Raiders. As a result, the Patriots set up with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in offensive coaching roles - two inexperienced coaches who had never run an offense in the NFL.
Now, The Athletic has reported that Jones lost faith in the duo during the miserable 2022 NFL season. It's also claimed Jones had 'legitimate scapegoats' for his poor performances in Patricia and Judge.
Jones is believed to have grown frustrated with play-calling at times during last season, as was clear to see when he berated the team bench and yelled "throw the f****** ball! The run game sucks!" during a disappointing offensive performance.
As a result of their issues, Jones, who has the near-impossible task of filling the shoes of icon Tom Brady, opted to seek coaching advice from outside the Patriots’ building. This is where the problems between Jones and Belichick seem to stem from.
For reference, Belichick famously isn't keen on outside help and his stance isn't new. During Brady's time in New England, his relationship with the head coach essentially broke down over the team's decision not to allow his personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, into the team facility or to travel with the team to games.
For Jones, not being able to turn to outside help may well have hampered his efforts for the Patriots last season, and as a result he nearly lost his starting spot in the team. Backup rookie Zappe was a sensation after taking over briefly, throwing a touchdown on his first drive.
Despite Jones perhaps not having the entire confidence of Belichick, it's believed he'll still be the Pats' starter later in the year when the NFL season begins. The Patriots are unlikely to make a run at Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
