Mike Giardi: ‘not surprised’ that someone close to Mac Jones made ‘garbage’ comment

During this morning’s Toucher & Rich, Rich brought up how there are concerns about Jones and how a source close to Jones commented that it's tough for a QB to perform well in these conditions when he’s surrounded by “garbage”. Mike Giardi, who covers the New England Patriots for Boston Sports Journal, expressed his lack of surprise at such comments from Jones's camp, explaining that people who are invested in a player tend to defend them, especially when things are not going well.

FOX Sports’ Henry McKenna reported some strong criticism of the personnel on the Patriots offense that was attributed to “a source close to Jones.”

“No matter how good of cook you are, you cannot make garbage taste good,” the source reportedly said. “Even if it was not Mac at QB, what QB would want to play here under these conditions?”

They also touched on the mental aspects of the game, how criticism can affect a player, and the importance of maintaining confidence. The conversation also touches on the team's performance, coaching decisions, and the team's current state. Fred hammered the need for a top draft pick to secure a quarterback for the future, as the season seems to be going downhill.

Nick Gemelli is a Producer for the Toucher and Rich program and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. you can follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.

Follow @Toucherandrich on Twitter, @Toucherandrichofficial and @fredtoucher on Instagram to keep up with the show!

Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined the Felger and Mazz program on Tuesday following the New England Patriots 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. While on, Greg Bedard did his weekly “10 Questions” segment on the program following week 5 of the 2023 NFL season.

10. Does Josh McDaniels have what it takes to be an NFL head coach?

Greg Bedard: He does. He has the potential. I mean, he has a brilliant football mind.

Felger: So how come I don't see it on Sundays?

Greg Bedard: Well, because I think he takes on too much. I think he expends too much energy on things that aren't in focus and he's too much in his play sheet. I think if he just managed the game, if he got somebody to run his offense and he just sat there and thought stuff up during the game, he would give his team an edge. They've had 14 losses since he's been there and 10 of them have been by one score or less. If he was thinking more in totality about the game, I think he would put them over the top.

9. What are you seeing or not seeing from Jordan Love and the Packers after their last two nationally televised losses?

Greg Bedard: He just needs to play more. He reminds me a lot of [Aaron] Rodgers after he sat his first year. I mean, you know, look, they went 6-10 his first year, and it wasn't because they lacked talent, he just wasn't ready. You have to learn on the fly. And I just think he's inexperienced.

8. Are you rooting against Sean Payton like everyone else seems to be?

Greg Bedard: Not really. But I've always thought that he's had a very punchable face, you know, back even when he was a Dallas Cowboys assistant coach.

7. If Kirk Cousins is traded before the Oct. 31 deadline, where would be the best landing spot?

Greg Bedard: Washington Commanders. Go back to where it started.

6. Speaking of the deadline, if the Pats were in sell mode and you were another team, who would you target?

Greg Bedard: Truth be told, nobody now that Judon's hurt. Judon to me is the only player on this team, everybody else they're so overrated. [Kyle] Dugger, [Josh] Uche...Maybe Hunter Henry I would go for.

Felger: Who might the Patriots be willing to trade, who you would want if you were another team at the deadline?

Greg Bedard: For me, it's Dugger, Andrews, Uche and Henry.

5. Is Las Vegas, the city, cool or made up of a bunch of toolbags? Do you like Vegas?

Greg Bedard: So I I love the Las Vegas area in general. I like Henderson, where the Raiders are located, like it's a cool suburb. You know, the weather, the golf courses, and I like how the downtown strip is there for entertainment purposes. I think it's really cool.

4. When you think of the Raiders' brand, what do you think of?

Greg Bedard: Al Davis.

3. Boomer and Gio in NY today were speculating on the Giants bottoming out, firing Brian Daboll, selecting Caleb Williams No. 1 and....bringing in Bill Belichick. If you were a Giants fan, how would you feel about that? If you were Bill Belichick, how would you feel about that?

Greg Bedard: I would hate it. I don't want Belichick anywhere near my franchise quarterback. He's probably bringing like "JuJu Sanu" and Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Chad Ochocinco. Like, are you kidding me? Brian Daboll made Josh Allen into Josh Allen. Like, I'm just fine with Brian Daboll. Really, they're going to fire him after one bad season? They made the playoffs last year with a garbage roster. We tried to tell all the Giants fans they weren't that good and they all cried. "What do you mean we're not that good?" You see now? Not good.

2. If Brian Daboll was the next Patriots head coach, how would you feel about that?

Greg Bedard: I'm good with it. He knows modern offense. He knows how to make a quarterback play well. And so let's go.

1.When you think of a coach in the pros or major colleges - any sport, any era -  who stayed on too long or "lost it,'' who comes to mind? 

Greg Bedard: Number one is Woody Hayes at Ohio State punching the Clemson player.