Zolak on whether or not Mac Jones should play in the preseason
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones looks to make a pass during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
During Monday’s show, Zo weighed in on whether or not Mac Jones should play on Thursday night against the Houston Texans:
So Thursday night is coming right around the corner. We just found out CJ Stroud is going to start for the Texans. What’s the indicator for Thursday night if Mac plays? Do you even think they dress him out? There’s going to be guys that don’t even dress out for this game
I look at it two ways. Billy O’Brien is the new guy. You want your new offense out there to sort of from a leadership standpoint. Everything we’ve been watching with Mac this this off season here and up through pre-season I think he’s he’s had a lot of good energy at practices when he’s been given the opportunity with great circumstances. I thought he’s performed well. He’s had some bad picks as had Zappe. But if Mac plays in this game there is going to be people that say, “well, he’s not one hundred percent the starter because if he was your starter, you protect him with bubble wrap.”
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe throws a pass as quarterback Mac Jones watches during 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
On the quarterback competition front, Hardy says there isn’t much there based on what he saw in practice last week down in Foxboro:
We said it when we were down there last weeks. Mac, looks like not only the better quarterback when it came to throwing the ball, but also moving through with the plays, running the offense. There was one guy who appeared to be a suitable backup quarterback in the NFL and another guy who looked like he was ready to go start a game in the league tomorrow. Maybe not win it for you, but a guy who looked to have a command of the game was playing with conviction and a control of just everything going on in the field. Whether it’s going to be good enough or not, who knows? But that’s what stood out, watching Mac, watching Bailey Zappe. Neither one of them suck. Neither one of them are great. It’s just that Mac was better. And yet, if you said Bailey was playing better in any of those practices, I don’t know what practice you were watching. Not last week. Not for the four days we were there.
Who is the currently the biggest superstar in the Patriots organization?
Jun 12, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches over practice at the Patriots minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Felger: Why?
Mazz: Because of his brand. The brand. Because of the brand. In other words, we still got a call about, “I’m tired of his act”. In other words, people still react to him and Belichick evokes that. It’s a little like what you were saying yesterday about the Bruins fan who cares enough to call up. They care enough. With Bill there they still care and there’s still a credibility that comes with Bill.
Felger: The more I think this out, on one level it’s like, “Oh, we got to put this A-hole out here again to speak for the organization now for a full day. What people are gonna be talking about is this grump at the microphone. This miserable, dismissive grump speaking for us. And he’s sort of the spokesman and the front man for the team. And everything is pulling teeth. Even just the simplest day one training camp question gets spat back in the face.” And it’s just like in some respects it’s such a downer.
