It’s no secret that Mac Jones skilled a turbulent three seasons with the New England Patriots.
Jones’ on-field outbursts, insufficient play and rumors of animosity between him and the Invoice Belichick-led teaching staffing littered his time with the Patriots. It in the end led to New England buying and selling Jones this previous offseason to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round decide.
Jones will see the Patriots for the primary time since being traded with New England and Jacksonville assembly in London on Sunday. With all that occurred throughout Jones’ stick with New England, the matchup offers the 26-year-old an opportunity to get a dose of revenge — he’s not anticipated to be play except beginning quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffers an harm.
Whereas getting again on the Patriots may be on Jones’ thoughts, his Jaguars teammates haven’t seen him outwardly present it.
“I believe for him it’s type of a kind of video games the place issues in New England didn’t go precisely how he wished,” Jaguars defensive finish Joe Gaziano informed NESN.com. “Some conditions aren’t at all times proper however I believe for him, he’s simply approaching this as one other recreation and he’s positively finding out movie the best way he at all times research as a result of he’s simply such an even-keeled man and approaches and performs soccer the proper means.”
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Jones, like how Drake Maye is considered now, was seen as New England’s subsequent franchise quarterback when it chosen the Alabama product fifteenth general within the 2021 NFL Draft. However after a promising rookie season during which he helped the Patriots to the playoffs and made the Professional Bowl, every part went up in flames.
It wasn’t completely his fault, both. Belichick stunted Jones’ growth by turning the offense over to Matt Patricia through the 2022 season and Jones by no means recovered. He went 2-9 final season with the Patriots and spent the ultimate six video games watching from the bench.
Patriots followers maintain loads of disdain for Jones for the best way issues performed out. However Gaziano, who’s a Scituate, Mass. native and first met Jones throughout offseason exercises within the Boston space, believes the notion of Jones isn’t actuality.
“I believe it’s simple to be on the skin and level in and type of choose a participant who’s in a helmet,” Gaziano stated. “You get to know the man off the sphere and also you notice how a lot of a superb, wholehearted individual he’s. You may inform he loves the sport of soccer. And like I stated, he simply approaches it the proper means.
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“You may’t level a season or two on one participant. There’s quite a lot of issues that go on behind the scenes that the common fan isn’t conscious of. I believe no matter he was doing in New England, I wasn’t precisely in these conferences. However I believe the best way he approaches the sport could be very skilled and he’s received an amazing work ethic to him.”
The change of surroundings seems to have executed Jones some good. He excelled with the Jaguars within the preseason to win the battle for the backup quarterback spot. He did present indicators of what Patriots followers noticed over time in his Jaguars debut when he received stripped-sacked.
Gaziano, who was elevated from the apply squad to the energetic roster for the sport towards the Patriots, received to know Jones higher now that the 2 are teammates. And Gaziano continues to be impressed by Jones, each on and off the sphere.
“He’s a fierce competitor, however he’s additionally a man who you wish to be round within the locker room simply due to the best way that he carries himself and doesn’t take himself too significantly and he likes to be a pleasant face within the locker room,” Gaziano stated. “I don’t suppose there’s quite a lot of distinction between Mac on a superb day or a nasty day. He’s very even-keeled. I like that about him.”
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