Despite what Bill Belichick said and did at the quarterback position this summer, Rodney Harrison believed rookie Mac Jones was the right man for the job.
Harrison was proved right this week with Cam Newton being released and therefore Jones becoming the starter. The former Patriots safety and now analyst for NBC Sports did admit Newton's release was surprising, but he understands it.
"I think first and foremost, I believe, and I said it the entire time, that I felt like Mac Jones was ready," he said on a NBC conference call with reporters this week. "That he was everything that the Patriots wanted and needed as a quarterback.
"I think when I watch him play, sometimes I sit back and say, what if that zero that’s on his jersey was a 2? Then he would look just like Tom Brady. He would look just like a young Tom Brady. The fact that they had so much trust in him early, to put him in a no-huddle, to give him different things, their offense was never limited with Mac Jones.
"People say, well, the lack of athleticism. Well, they’ve got four or five running backs that can run the football. They need somebody that is going to take care of the football, that can take control of the offense, not only know the offense, but also be able to know the defense and be able to get the offense into the correct play. I think Mac Jones can do that.
"Now, did I think that Cam was going to get cut? No, but I understand why. Number one, maybe it’s because he wasn’t vaccinated, and that has to be a concern with most teams, with all teams. If your leader, if your quarterback is not vaccinated, it’s going to affect the dynamic of the team. But I thought Coach Belichick, everything that he preached as far as doing what’s best for the team, making every guy earn his spot."
A few weeks ago Harrison said it was a "no-brainer" to go with Jones when Belichick said Newton was the starter.
"And I was disappointed with Matt Nagy. I was disappointed earlier with Coach Belichick when he named Cam Newton and he said Cam Newton was going to be the starting quarterback," he said. "I didn’t believe that because I believe everyone should compete, and that’s exactly what he promised when I came in in 2003. He puts up a chart and says, hey, you make the depth chart. It’s not about giving someone a job, it’s about earning a job.
"When you have a young guy like Mac, you don’t want a 10-year veteran or however many years Cam had played behind him looking over his shoulder, and I think that was ultimately what led to Cam’s demise. But Cam will be fine. He’s made a lot of money. He’s done some wonderful things in his career."
Jones will make his first NFL start Sept. 12 against Miami.
