Mac Jones holds first press conference as Patriots starting QB

Author Alex Barth

September 8th, 2021 7:08 PM

On Wednesday, Mac Jones held his first media availability since being named the Patriots’ starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. It didn’t take long until somebody asked him about the previous long-term holder of that job.

With the second question of the press conference, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran asked if following Tom Brady is “pressure” or “an opportunity because of the standard he set.”

“I think obviously he’s a great player, but the word ‘standard’ kind of hit me there because we all want to play to that standard – The Patriot Way,” Jones responded. “Really it comes down to just doing your job. As a quarterback that’s leading the people around me as best I can and that’s also executing the play. So it off or we’re through. It pretty much comes down to.”

Jones followed that up with some Brady-esque answers of his own throughout the press conference.

Asked if he’s nervous for his first NFL game, Jones replied, “I think I’d be doing the wrong thing if I wasn’t. I think nerves are a good thing but – you can always be nervous but you can’t play nervous. I’ve always said that. Just play.” He continued, “It’s really not just a one-man show at all. It takes all 11 people.”

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  Before Jones spoke, tackle Trent Brown told media members that when the offense makes a mistake during practice, Jones will often be the one yelling "do it over" before the coaches get a chance. 
  
  "Yeah, I think practice - you've got to have a picture of how it's supposed to go in your head. You want everything to be perfect and it's not always going to be perfect," Jones said when asked about it. "Sometimes I make something up and I'll be like, 'dang, let's just run that back,' even if it was one little thing, just to make sure we're good on it. And the goal is to not have to do that all. But it happens. It's part of practice. Practice - you want to close the gap was perfect, so if we can try and get it exactly how we want it that's what we're going to do."
  
  Finally, Jones was asked about his personal drive - something else touted by Brown. "I'm driven. It comes down to, honestly, winning and having fun. If you can do those things, if you know what to do, you can put yourself in a position to have success and then it becomes fun," Jones explained. "So that's kind of what it all comes down to, is just 11 guys coming together on a given play and doing it right...that's where my drive comes from, is just doing the right thing, just being prepared and figuring out what I can do to help the team."
  
  Jones will get his first chance to 'help the team' on Sunday, when the Patriots host the Miami Dolphins in their season opener. He'll look to become just the fourth rookie quarterback to ever win a game for the Patriots, and the second to do so in their first career appearance (Jim Plunkett, 1971). 

MORE: Predicting the Patriots’ starting lineup

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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Author Alex Barth

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Mac Jones,New England Patriots,NFL,patriots,Tom Brady