In some places, mostly the dark conspiracy-filled corners of social media and the internet, there’s a narrative that Mac Jones is in a QB competition with Bailey Zappe at Patriots training camp this summer.
Now, mind you, there’s really no evidence to back up this storyline. But, it’s 2023 so facts are more pliable than TB12, especially online.
So it was during his post-practice meeting with the media on Thursday that Jones was asked about the “storyline” that he’s competing with Zappe for the starting job in New England. Jones deftly sidestepped the query the way he’s had to so many pass rushers this summer.
“I think every year you have to have the mindset that you’re competing, not only against yourself, you’re competing against the teams you’re about to play, which is really important for me. Understanding that it’s the NFL, and every week you’re going to go against a great quarterback. So, that’s my biggest concern and just trying to lead the team every day and bring everybody along. You know, I’ve been fortunate to be in a lot of quarterback rooms that are really good. So, just trying to learn from everybody, obviously learn from Coach [Bill] O’ Brien, and Evan [Rothstein] and Coach Belichick. At the end of the day, it’s all about improving each day. When you go out there on Sunday, you want your guys to be confident in you, and that’s what I’m trying to instill in them right now.”
Nowhere in that long answer was any reference to a competition with Zappe or Jones’ job status being in question. Because it’s not. Heck, he’s been part of the Patriots recruiting process this offseason, most recently including a dinner with free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott, not something a backup QB is usually part of.
As he should, Jones is focused on his preparation for the regular season and the competition that will bring, including a murderers’ row of opposing elite quarterbacks. He knows his role is one of a key leader, which requires carrying himself in a certain way, a barometer he may not have lived up to during the personal and team-wide struggles of last season.
“I think it’s fun,” Jones said of his emotion on the practice field. “That’s one of the things this offseason that I put a lot of thought into, is just enjoying the game and especially practice, right? It’s practice. It’s good to have fun, but at the end of the day we’re out here working. Putting in the work is the most important part, but we’ve got to have that juice every day. I feel like it comes from the leader and the leaders of the team, so you just have to go out there and have fun.”
As much as Jones is confident in his own ability, role and growth as the clear and obvious leader of the New England, he also expressed faith in the guys around him. Sure he’s tried to recruit others to join the mix, but he also wanted to make it quite clear he believes in the men already around him.
“I’ve just been really pleased with the guys we have in the room, because it’s plenty enough, and we just have got to come together and make it work,” Jones said, downplaying his work as a recruiter. “I'm happy with the guys we have in the room, so it is hard to answer these questions, you know? Because I really do think we have enough and I think we have plenty enough. The offensive line looks really good right now, the skill players are doing great and like I said, the older guys are really setting the standard. It's still early, but they just need to continue to do that because I have a lot of trust in those guys and then it goes down to the younger guys as well.”
Jones clearly is having fun this summer. He’s clearly focused on his role leading his team. And he continues to do just that.
“To win, you have to do a lot of really good things consistently, all the time. I feel like I need to do that better, just try to lead the team more so from the mental side and all that stuff,” Jones said. “Obviously, the plays and the physical stuff is there; I just have to go out there and try and lead. Really, for me, I've always kind of been a fun person, in my opinion. Hopefully people agree. But, that's why people like to play with me, you know? Because we like to go out there, and have fun and compete. So, I just have to be consistent there. I feel like sometimes if I'm not consistent, you can tell, and that's something that I'm trying to work on. So, I'm just trying to stay the course, but at the same time, have fun and then when bad things happen, just accept it and kind of move on.”