Just when Mac Jones thought it was safe to go back in the water…
Or in this case, just when the New England quarterback thought it was safe to step back onto the Gillette Stadium turf in front of home fans as the unquestioned leader of the Patriots’ offense, along comes undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham!
As Jones himself learned the hard way last Foxborough fall, unless a starter has reached Tom Brady-level stability under center the backup QB can often be the most popular player in town.
Zappe! Zappe! Zappe! chants were all the rage, if you recall, until saner minds realized late last season and into this offseason that Jones, not his mediocre mid-round understudy, was the locked-in starter in New England.
And while that status is as true this August morning as ever, Jones probably has another budding perception problem in the form of his undrafted teammate Cunningham who provided spark, playmaking and actual football fun in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s otherwise dismal preseason-opening 20-9 loss to the lowly Texans.
After watching three quarters of Zappe and journeyman Trace McSorley struggle to get anything done behind a dismal offensive line that’s become THE story of the summer in New England, Cunningham took his late opportunity and literally ran with it. The former Louisville star led a scoring drive – yes, those are allowed in preseason action! – by running the ball five times for a team-best 34 yards (6.8 avg.) while completing three of his four passes for 19 yards.
Cunningham capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run on which he broke the ankles of a helpless Houston linebacker on the way to the end zone. And that play came shortly after teammate Tre Nixon failed to haul in a would-be TD throw on a pretty rollout pass to the right.
Cunningham was the show, the energy and the highlights for the Patriots on this early August night.
Suddenly, he’s also THE problem for Jones.
Now, Jones’ haters – and there are a vocal plenty in Patriot Nation – have another option to turn to in their eager desires to replace and displace No. 10.
Now, the internet, X and talk-radio airwaves are going to be filled not with Zappe Fever but a new variant of the backup QB epidemic that might just be Malik Mania!
Heck, even notable figures like former Colts punter-turned-podcast legend Pat McAfee as well as Ravens MVP QB and fellow Louisville alum Lamar Jackson took note of Cunningham's electric efforts late in what was otherwise a very forgettable exhibition affair.
So get ready for all the obviously overzealous reactions to the fun of Cunningham’s on-field actions.
Is he going to slide into a more consistent QB role rather than the mostly wide receiver reps he’s been getting to date on the training camp practice field?
Should Cunningham get more preseason game reps under center, maybe earlier reps ahead of McSorley or even Zappe?
Could Cunningham, who appears to be the perfect practice squad player at this point, actually make a run at the Patriots' final 53-man roster?
Or…for the most extreme of Patriots ponderers…could Cunningham and his athletic style even push Jones for the starting job?
Like the monster in a horror movie, Zappe’s time as Jones’ tormentor is over.
But in this summertime blockbuster scary Patriots sequel, Cunningham has taken over as Jones’ worst nightmare.
Hope Jones is better than his oversensitive wide receiver teammates at the supposed organizational mantra of “ignore the noise,” because Cunningham just turned up the volume.
No, there is no QB controversy in New England these days with either Zappe or Cunningham.
But there is a hot, new, popular young option for fans to latch on to. And that’s less than ideal for Jones as he heads into what many are already describing as a make-or-break third NFL season for the former No. 15 overall pick.