The future at QB for the Patriots? Mike Giardi weighs in
Mike Giardi of The Boston Sports Journal joined Fred Toucher to discuss the Patriots QB situation for the rest of the 2023 season and beyond.
During yesterday’s show, Fred Toucher and Mike Giardi from Boston Sports Journal discussed the Patriots’ quarterback situation for the remainder of the 2023 season and beyond. The conversation centered around Mac Jones being benched three times this season and the possibility of him starting in the upcoming game against the Giants. Giardi expressed his belief that Jones should start and mentioned the lack of progress from backup quarterback Bailey in practice.
The conversation also delved into the idea of the Patriots potentially drafting a quarterback in the next year’s draft, particularly if they secure a high pick.
TRANSCRIPT:
Fred Toucher: If it’s truly a competition, Mac emerges and doesn’t get benched again this year. So his performance is at such a level he manages not to get himself benched. Much like we talked about, what if Belichick goes on like a little bit of a winning streak. Is there a way that they go, All right, good. Mac Jones still makes himself the quarterback of this team or at least competing for being the quarterback of this team next year?
Mike Giardi: 100%, yeah. Well, think about it. He’s next year. He’s not making any money. So they don’t have to pick up the fifth-year option. I’d be stunned if they picked up the fifth-year option. Something crazy would have to happen here in the last seven games for them to even consider that. So I think the hits $5 million? Like that’s nothing in this day and age for a backup quarterback and then whether or not you end up with the third pick right now let’s say that holds man Caleb Williams be gone. The next quarterback is not worthy of being picked #3 So you’re probably picking Marvin Harrison or the tackle.
Fred Toucher: Oh boy.
Mike Giardi: And then you’re looking maybe the next tier are quarterbacks in the second round. It’s a competition. Then you head into the spring and summer with Mac Jones as the incumbent, but you drafted a kid in the second round and maybe you can blow up the rest of the room and you add a veteran like Josh Dobbs, someone like that, and say, “All right, ball’s out there. Go ahead, compete.
Nick Gemelli is a Producer for the Toucher and Rich program and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. you can follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.
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Greg Bedard: 10 Questions From Around The NFL Following Week 11
The 10 Questions
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills scrambles with the ball during the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
10. Do you feel QB play at the NFL level is a problem?
Greg Bedard: The play is, but not the talent. I think the talent is off the charts.
9. What’s the biggest problem?
Greg Bedard: Couple different things. To me, the offensive line play in this league is awful. You know, when it starts in college where they’re not getting coached enough, they’re more interested in recruiters than coaches. They don’t really get developed at the college level. Then they come up here, they don’t have enough practice time, and the coaching is bad in the NFL, I think on the offensive line as a whole. And then the other thing, and I posed this question to an NFL executive and they said that the, you know, the schemes that they are bringing more and more to the NFL level, that in college it works because most of the time it’s the talent disparity. You know, in every game that you’re going up against. But in the NFL, these schemes, if you have a a good defense and a really good coach, they’re easy to defend. I mean, look at the Chiefs. You know, what they did to the Eagles and the Dolphins in recent weeks. I wouldn’t say the Chiefs have unbelievable talent on defense, but they have Spag’s . You give those guys an off season to get ready for this stuff. They know how to shut it down.
CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 04: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paycor Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
8. What’s the solution?
Greg Bedard: I don’t know. You know, they need to have coaching staffs together longer. There needs to be more patience around the league. But of course, that’s never going to happen. So I really don’t know.
7. Serious question. Should you put flags on them? Do you think the league will ultimately put flags on the quarterbacks?
Greg Bedard: I’m not ruling it out. I think it’s something interesting to look at, and the owners could get that desperate. You know, Joe Burrow being out this year, I mean, it doesn’t help anybody. I think they will consider that at some point in time. I really do.
Oct 30, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
6. Thoughts on the firing of Matt Canada in Pittsburgh?
Greg Bedard: I’m not ruling it out. I think it’s something interesting to look at, and the owners could get that desperate. You know, Joe Burrow being out this year, I mean, it doesn’t help anybody. I think they will consider that at some point in time. I really do.
5. Who is currently the biggest tool-bag coach in the league?
Greg Bedard: Brandon Staley, with all his coaching decisions then his postgame press conference the other day. What a tool.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
4. Did last night’s game say more about KC in defeat or Philly in victory?
Greg Bedard: Kansas City for sure. I mean, they had they had total command of that game and they couldn’t put it away because they couldn’t manufacture enough offense and their two red zone turnovers
3. Who should Patrick Mahomes be most frustrated with this morning?
Greg Bedard: Kansas City for sure. I mean, they had they had total command of that game and they couldn’t put it away because they couldn’t manufacture enough offense and their two red zone turnovers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 14: The Pete Rozelle Trophy given to the Super Bowl MVP, and the Vince Lombardi Trophy are seen during the Super Bowl LVI head coach and MVP press conference at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
2. Do you still want the tush-push outlawed?
Greg Bedard: I hate it. I mean, for the Eagles it’s just too automatic. I don’t know how you combat it. It got to the point where I was having a conversation with my son and he was like, Do you think they could just tush-push it from the ten yard line on on first down? And I said, yeah, they probably could. That’s what it’s going to evolve into. Is that what you want in the NFL?
1. What would be the best, most entertaining Super Bowl matchup?
Greg Bedard: Niners -Dolphins. I want the Shanahan bowl. Kyle Shanahan and his protege Mike McDaniel.
