Yet another divide seems to be opening in Pats Nation during this tumultuous and disappointing 2022 season. There are almost too many to count at this point, and the latest one represents a brewing battle between Bill Belichick’s former and current players.
We’ve already had to deal with the “In Bill We Trust” crowd getting their banners in a bunch over fans and media criticizing his decision to go with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge as the offensive braintrust this season (history will likely side with those who criticized). Then we had the Mac vs. Zappe debate, which caused a mild civil war amongst the die-hards as to which QB was better overall and especially for this team (jury still out on that one thanks to the Patricia addition). Now players who’ve won Super Bowls with Belichick are letting us know they’re not happy about Mac Jones’ recent behavior.
On the latest episode of “Inside The NFL” (a tough watch for any Pats fan), former Patriot and “Foxboro Forever” chairman Julian Edelman rips into Mac Jones, first for not doing more to stop Chandler Jones as he snared the lateral from Jakobi Meyers, exalting, “Season’s on the line…you gotta trip him!”
Then, Edelman admonishes Jones for the emotional flare-ups and outbursts he’s had in recent weeks, adding, “He doesn’t practice waving off the coaches and all these antics and pissy faces and stuff. He doesn’t practice that and he does it. Why can’t he make the play?”
Edelman, a Belichick loyalist who has come into his own as a personality and brand, remains married to the Patriot Way and whatever is in the best interest of the football team. And he’s not alone in terms of men with rings they earned with Belichick disappointed in Jones of late.
During a recent appearance on NBC Sports Boston, Vince Wilfork said he was tired of the way Jones was acting.
“You’re the leader of this team,” Wilfork said. “You’re a quarterback. You can’t be frustrated every week. I don’t care if you’re getting the play-call in late or whatever it may be.”
Wilfork spoke as recently as his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame about buying into what Belichick told him to do and being a part of what was in the team’s best interest. So again, him siding with Bill here is on brand.
As for those siding with Jones? Many fans don’t blame him for how things are going, and quite frankly seem to understand why he’s so aggravated…though multiple F-bombs on national TV won’t win over everyone at home. Plus, the locker room, according to reports, is on Mac’s side…a sign that the team is frustrated with this offense that has regressed massively from a season ago.
Jones himself has spoken about playing “with passion and emotion” so it might be difficult for him to have sea change as far as showing his frustration with the many stagnant elements of this offense.
Many former Pats have spoken out about how unusual this season is, like Ty Law, who earlier this week lost his cool about the Raiders game and said he noticed uncharacteristic things happening in Foxboro. Whether more former Patriots who experienced success during Bill Belichick’s run as HC of the NEP will speak out soon against Jones and his tantrums will be yet another storyline worth keeping an eye on as this turbulent season draws to a close.
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