Joe Burrow is the NFL’s latest, greatest Next Big Thing.
He’s done what many perceived might be impossible by leading the Bungles … sorry, old habits die hard…the Bengals to the Super Bowl. He’s injected immediate life in Cincinnati the same way he injected a national title into Ed Orgeron’s LSU coaching career.
Anyone who watched Burrow play for the Tigers knew he was special. That’s why he was an easy call as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft two years ago.
He’s a transformative star in an NFL world that is now clearly built on such stars.
Suddenly, Burrow is also the guy to whom many Patriots fans and some optimistic media types are comparing New England rookie QB Mac Jones.
Huh?
Maybe if we close one eye, throw on some Joe Burrow-approved shades and light up a celebratory cigar the comparison will come clear through the smoke.
Because otherwise, if we’re clear-eyed and clear-headed, it’s a comparison that just doesn’t seem to work even if there are indeed some baseline resume similarities.
Yes, Burrow and Jones were one-year starters for SEC schools that were able to lead their squads to the national championship via historic passing seasons by taking full advantage of the NFL-ready talent that surrounded them. Both are 6-3 and kinda look like aging former child movie stars.
But that’s about where the supposed parallel paths diverge.
Burrow was the clear choice as the No. 1 overall pick. Jones was the fifth quarterback selected in last year’s draft, falling into Bill Belichick’s needy lap at No. 15 overall.
Burrow has a significantly stronger arm and while by no means a runner, is certainly more athletic relative to Jones.
And in terms of personalities, well there is certainly no comparison. Burrow is Joe Cool or Smokin’ Joe, oozing confidence, leadership, pizazz and endless other alpha attributes. He’s about as cocksure a quarterback as has come into professional football in quite some time. Burrow seemingly never met a challenge he couldn’t handle or a question he wouldn’t answer with requisite, trademark swag.
Meanwhile, Jones is also clearly a leader and a strong competitor, but at least in terms of his rookie season under Belichick’s overpowering watchful control was rather cautious in both the way he walked the walk and talked the talk.
So, no, Jones isn’t the next Burrow just like he isn’t the next Tom Brady, a popular comparison that first popped up early on in the pre-Draft process nearly a year ago at this time.
He’s also obviously not the next Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert or Josh Allen.
Or any of the other newbie, next generation of NFL quarterback stars that either have a cannon for a right arm or the ability to scamper all over the field when necessary to run their team to victory.
Jones is none of those things.
But that’s OK. There is no rule that says he has to be able to run or have a rifle right arm in order to play or succeed.
There’s no need for him to be a cock of the walk quote machine to win games, especially under Belichick’s guidance in Foxborough.
An armchair psychologist would probably have a field day with the need for so many, especially Patriots fans, to come up with a star comps for Jones. Might have to do with their own insecurities or lack of confidence in their young franchise QB, but that can be left to another column for another day.
This isn’t real estate, not everything has to be a comp.
For the here and now it’s important to remember that Mac Jones is doing pretty darn well in life just being the one and only Mac Jones.
Mac Jones made it to Alabama, started at quarterback for the most talented school in the country and led the Tide to a title under arguably the greatest coach in college football history.
Mac Jones earned a first-round draft selection by arguably the greatest NFL coach in history. And in his first season in New England was a rare rookie to lead his team to the playoffs as the first-ever 17-game rookie starter and even secured an alternate Pro Bowl nod in the process.
Mac Jones helped inject rejuvenate hope into what for a short period of time last year was a somewhat fledgling, momentarily almost hopeless post-Tom Brady franchise.
So maybe let’s just allow Mac Jones with his brutally bland personality, average but extremely accurate arm, mediocre athleticism, insatiable love of preparation, incredible work ethic and beautiful on-field mind be himself in his career evolution.
No, Mac Jones is not the next Joe Burrow any more than he’s the next Tom Brady. And that’s OK.
Maybe just being Mac Jones will be good enough for both him and the Patriots.
