Who’s the starting quarterback of the New England Patriots? It’s obviously former first-round pick Mac Jones, who has started all 31 games he’s played since joining the organization as the 15th pick in 2021.
But leading the Patriots to the playoffs while being named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement apparently isn’t enough to get the media to stop asking coach Bill Belichick who his starting QB is. It doesn’t help that Bailey Zappe came in and won his only two starts as a rookie last season, filling in while Jones was rehabbing an injured ankle.
After ranking 17th in scoring in 2022, many are curious to see how the Patriots’ offense will take advantage of new coordinator Bill O’Brien’s expertise. Could it even be Zappe under center, leading the charge?
Part of the issue has been coach Belichick refusing to acknowledge Jones as his starting QB all offseason. Even Tuesday, when asked if there’s any type of QB competition brewing, Belichick didn’t squash the idea.
“Everybody’s out here competing. All 90 guys. That’s what we’re all here for, to compete. Everybody’s out here competing. Everybody’s out here competing. That’s what everybody’s doing.”
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick on Mac Jones, competition
Typical coachspeak from Belichick? Probably.
It’s not uncommon for coaches to resist showering praise on athletes, especially when there’s still more to prove. In this case, we shouldn’t be surprised to see the tough-loving coach shy away from complimenting his young players.
Now if they were on the other team, and Belichick was about to face off with them this week, we’d likely hear a different tune, one that talks about how great Jones is. But that’s just how the six-time Super Bowl champ operates.
Related: How does Mac Jones compare to his starting QB peers?