New England Patriots rising star Josh Uche has made a big statement to the team after discussing his love for quarterback Mac Jones.
In recent weeks it has emerged that the Patriots had been actively shopping Jones and that he had been made available via trade. News had emerged that the Patriots could look to move on from their former first-round pick, with head coach Bill Belichick only adding fuel to that fire in recent weeks.
After being selected in the first-round pick out of Alabama following a National Championship win, Jones had a strong rookie year with the Pats - with the team looking like they'd found their long-term replacement for Tom Brady.
But this past season saw Jones take a step back in his second year, with the Patriots being criticised for not hiring an offensive coordinator, and Jones himself being visibly frustrated with the team's situation. Heading into this off-season, Belichick was presented the opportunity to back Jones and name him as their starter, but chose not to do so.
This only enhanced trade talks, with rumours suggesting that the Patriots could look at Lamar Jackson, or potentially an option in the NFL Draft to replace him, but Uche hopes that doesn't happen.
Uche told Good Morning Football: "When it comes to Mac, I love Mac. I mean, he's a competitor. Somebody who I've gone to war with and practiced with.
"I've seen his work ethic and his tenacity. I think he's a dog. That's me personally, having worked with Mac and knowing what I know about him. Listen, he's a dog. That's all I can say, man. He's our quarterback."
Uche had 12 sacks last season in by far his best year since joining after being drafted from Michigan. However, it is clear that he did not want to anger his head coach, and caught himself when discussing the team's future decisions.
He said: "At the end of the day, it's up to coach Belichick to make the best decision for the team. My job is to be a player. To go out there and do my job. So, leaving the coaching decisions up to them, that's kind of what helped me focus more."
The Patriots have hired former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien to work with Jones, who coached the same offense which he had thrived in during his time in college.
