Orlovsky: ‘It’s time to sit Mac Jones’

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jones and mego: Dan Orlovsky joins the show

The Patriots and Bill Belichick stirred the proverbial pot on Wednesday’s practice when, after refusing to name a starting quarterback earlier in the day, showed only Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham throwing passes during the media portion of practice.

Mac Jones stood behind the drill, with his hands in his handwarmer.

This, of course, started the dialogue of New England likely making a quarterback change this coming weekend after Jones was benched last Sunday for the fourth time this season in their loss to the Giants.

ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, who at most junctures has defended Jones this season, now says it’s time for him to be benched.

"I mean with New England and coach Belichick you never really know, but it certainly sounds like it would be Bailey Zappe starting,” the former QB said on his weekly appearance with WEEI’s Jones and Mego. “I don't think I'd be in disagreement with that. I believe it's time to sit Mac Jones, because of everything that has gone down. Mac is a broken player. He just is. He's a broken competitor right now.”

He continued: “Whether you think it's the best move for the team or not, I guess that's up for debate, but I don't disagree that if they move to Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham, Drew Bledsoe, that's probably a better decision."

Orlovsky was then asked if he thinks Zappe will make a difference in the offensive production:

“No,” he said bluntly before giving an explanation. “I'm not saying Bailey's a bad player. Bailey's had some moments that were good moments, but I do not see anything in Bailey Zappe that is-- I've said this guys, I don't think anybody's really going to change this offense that differently… These aren't my made-up statistics or whatnot... the numbers that ESPN uses, this is the least separating offensive group in the NFL over the last three-plus seasons."

Jones, of course, dealt with the above adversity throughout the season, something Orlovsky doesn’t believe should be entirely on the quarterback’s shoulders:

“To deal with adversity at that position,” he explained. “It's not an individualized journey. It's easy for anybody to sit here and say that, 'Well, Mac hasn't dealt with adversity well'. Well, to deal with adversity at the quarterback spot is not a solo journey. It's just not. It's the most dependent position in all of professional sports.”

“And when you're dealing with that adversity,” Orlovsky continued. “You have to have people around you that can, in some way, at least on a Sunday for at least 3.5 hours, help you perform through that adversity. And that hasn't been the case in New England and no one's going to debate me on that.”

The Patriots practice again on Thursday afternoon when we’ll potentially get a second look at what direction they’ll ultimately go in at signal caller on Sunday versus the Chargers.

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