New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has had the backing of his teammates all off-season with a few players rallying around him, and now a Patriots legend has told the team that Jones should be their QB1 for the future.
Former running back James White spent eight seasons with the Patriots, winning three NFL championships as one of Tom Brady 's favourite receiving options on the team - including scoring the decisive walk-off touchdown in the Super Bowl victory against the Atlanta Falcons to complete one of the greatest comebacks of all-time.
White would also play with Jones for one season, the quarterback's rookie year was his final year in the league as he played in a limited role, but remained a locker room leader for the team in 2021. And White is just the latest player to give Jones his backing heading into the new year, explaining he sees him as the quarterback who should be Brady's long-term replacement.
Speaking on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, White said: "He's definitely the guy and it's his job for the taking. Having Bill O'Brien this year will allow him to improve off of last season. I know he was thrown into a tough situation with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge as first-time play callers.
"I know he's a guy who works extremely hard and he's extremely smart - you could tell that from his rookie season when he lead us to the playoffs and he'll be chomping at the bit to prove himself. He will go out there and earn the respect of his teammates every single day."
The aforementioned O'Brien joined the Patriots for a second spell, as he left Alabama as their offensive playcaller to rejoin Bill Belichick's staff.
He previously spent five years with the Patriots, where he was a coach of a number of offensive positions before becoming offensive coordinator in 2011 - going on to become head coach of the Houston Texans and then joining Alabama - calling plays for number one overall draft pick Bryce Young.
The Patriots needed to make coaching changes after a disappointing season in 2022, in which they chose not to hire an offensive coordinator, instead handing that to defensive coach, Patricia, who had never called plays before. Patricia struggled in the role, and has now been relieved of those duties before joining the Philadelphia Eagles.
When Jones has struggled at times last season, it appeared that some Patriots fans even had begun to turn on him - asking for his backup Bailey Zappe to come in.
A fourth-round rookie, Zappe surprisingly impressed impressed when he came in, in lieu of Jones who missed a few games through injury, leading some to questions with he should be competing for the spot. But White sees it at Jones' role, with the Patriots investing a first-round pick in him in 2021 and hoping to build from his impressive rookie season.
White added: "Obviously Bailey Zappe stepped in last season for a few games and did his thing, he can have a bright future as well, but I think it's Mac's job and he'll show everybody that this year."
