Everything that an NFL quarterback does and says is analyzed.
Actually, overanalyzed is probably more accurate.
From on-field performance to body language to each interview word, it’s all up for assessment by the media and the football-loving masses alike.
That’s certainly true for a former first-round pick and Pro Bowl rookie quarterback entering his third professional season with plenty to prove and maybe even more to make people forget about.
For decades in New England Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady and even Cam Newton lived life as the Foxborough focal point, but in some ways none was in the unique position where Mac Jones finds himself in 2023.
Cue the music.
Every breath No. 10 takes. Every move he makes. Every bond he breaks. Every step Jones takes. We’ll be watching him.
Certainly every word Jones says we’ll be interpreting long before we can ponder every game he plays.
That begins with Jones’ first press conference of 2023 this week following the first OTA workout of the spring that was open to reporters. After an impressive first session that included efficient, timely, accurate throws and some big plays under the bounty of watchful media eyes – all in the too-hyped, non-padded, non-competitive environment of shorts-and-t-shirts action – Jones brought an upbeat, confident and seemingly honest air to his meeting with the media.
“I think every year is a great year to just stay positive and try and gain confidence,” Jones said in his first words of his first response to a question about his confidence heading into what might be a make-or-break third season.
One is left to wonder, though, was his dismal sophomore season in which both he and his entire offense regressed mightily under the inexperienced, ill-prepared, incapable leadership of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge a year in which Jones simply couldn’t “stay positive and gain confidence”? We all saw his emotional outbursts of frustration late last season, him reaching his breaking point after months and months of dismal dysfunction both in front of and behind the scenes.
But this is a new year. A new hope. And he has a new offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien whose resume and accomplishments, including success at previous stops in both New England and Jones’ alma mater Alabama, should warrant immediate cache. And another key word that was top of mind for Jones.
“It's been really good. It's been normal,” Jones said of the first stages working with O’Brien. “I think everything he's done so far has been really good. I think the communication is the most important part, and trust. I think it all starts with that when you're with a new coach.”
Normal, huh? Probably not hard to feel normal in juxtaposition to last offseason, when Jones was stuck in the most abnormal situation in recent football memory with a defensive coach calling plays and a special teams mind as his QB coach. What Patriots owner Robert Kraft has called an “experiment” with Jones’ coaching in 2022 has been replaced with stability and competency from O’Brien. It’s brought a much-needed sense of normalcy, and it’s not too hard to see that Jones is very much on board with it all.
Oh, and that word trust, one that Jones used a handful of times when talking about O’Brien and his relationship with his new mentor, the man charged with recharging the career of a guy who less than 12 months ago was seen as a franchise QB and one of bright young stars in the NFL. But one year working with Patricia undermined and torpedoed all that. One year, seemingly, without trust.
And maybe no words Jones’ served up to reporters carried more relevant weight than when he was asked rather bluntly if he any part of him simply wants to tell the many vocal critics coming off last year’s dismal performances to simply “Shut the F up?”
After a somewhat awkward, “we’ll see,” said through a laugh, Jones took a far more serious and telling tone.
“I'm going to do everything I can to earn the respect of everybody in this building again,” Jones said.
You don’t have to read too much into that response to believe Jones had and lost the respect of at least some inside the walls of Gillette Stadium.
Can we surmise and speculate at least one of those people is Bill Belichick? Damn rights we can!
If you’re paying attention, Jones is talking the talk these days. He’s telling us exactly why he has hope for 2023 and exactly why things went oh so wrong in 2022.
It’s about “confidence” and things being “normal” for a young QB who’s been competing for his playing life all his life. A guy whose rookie swagger immediately impressed veteran teammates and was absent last fall.
It’s about “trust” and “respect,” two words that run a two-way street in any relationship.
Two critical words that we now know were seemingly lacking for Jones and the Patriots’ offense a year ago.
Because if you were listening closely and paying attention this week, Jones just told us as much.