LISTEN: Michael Lombardi takes down Mac Jones

By now, you know that Michael Lombardi is a former NFL executive and coach, not to mention a longtime associate of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Now a media analyst, Lombardi has a podcast called The GM shuffle with host Femi Abebefe. In the latest episode, we get what can only be called a Michael Lombardi takedown of Mac Jones.

In the interest of accuracy, Jones is hardly the only focus of Lombardi's commentary here - and we should make it crystal clear that many agree with Lombardi's overall point about the importance of leadership skills in any successful quarterback. Over the last two seasons with the Patriots, as Jones deterioration has reached a crisis, his greatest flaw arguably has been his inability to lead, which is no small thing. Offensively, at least, the Patriots have looked fractured and inept under Jones' leadership, and the the frustrations of his teammates and coaches have often been visible.

Lombardi, for his part, has taken a great deal of criticism in these parts for being a Bill Belichick sycophant, but let's make something else clear: that is not the purpose. Whether you love Lombardi or hate him, he at least shares many philosophies and beliefs with Belichick, which makes his commentary valuable. (This is especially true give Belichick's unwillingness to share most anything.) As such, we can get often a glimpse into the way Belichick thinks by listening to the thoughts of those who know and understand him - and, in this case, those who learned and developed both under and with him.

In this 6-minute excerpt of his most recent podcast, Lombardi was asked about the resurgence of Denver Broncos, who are now 6-5 after 1-5 start that featured an unforgettable 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins. (Yes, 70-20.) And while Lombardi's answer addresses the roles of Broncos coach Sean Payton and quarterback Russell Wilson, it turns into a discussion about quarterback leadership in general and Mac Jones in particular. You can listen by clicking on the photo of Lombardi below:

The simplest and most telling statistic for the 2023 Patriots goes something like this: when Mac Jones throws an interception, the Patriots are 0-8. When he doesn't, they're 2-0.

But after yesterday, Mac Jones' latest interception might very well be his last.

At least for a while.

With a little less than 4:30 remaining in the game and the Patriots facing a 10-6 deficit against the Indianapolis Colts, Jones made what he himself termed "a terrible throw" that resulted in another interception yesterday in Frankfurt, Germany. The play ended what had been a productive New England drive and sent the spiraling Pats to their eighth defeat as they enter their Week 11 bye.

Given the way things have gone this season - for the Patriots in general and Jones in particular - the end was hardly surprising.

Jones has now throws 10 interceptions this season to lead the NFL, though that is only part of the story. For his career, Jones now has thrown 34 interceptions in 41 starts, an average of nearly one per game.  In the 24 total regular season games in which he has thrown at least one interception, the Patriots are just 6-18. Yesterday marked their ninth straight defeat in such games going back to last season.

Jones also has 14 fumbles, one of which was returned by the Dallas Cowboys for a touchdown earlier this season.

Ugly? You bet. Asked why he removed Jones from yesterday's game and whether Jones could be replaced as the team's starter going forward - a change that seems inevitable - Patriots coach Belichick hardly sounded like someone intent on giving Jones another chance.

"Yeah, we'll worry about next week next week. The game just finished a half hour ago," he said. "I just thought it was time for a change."

Yesterday's defeat marked the second consecutive week in which Jones threw an interception to extinguish any remaining Patriots hopes, though all interceptions are hardly created equal. In the Week 9 game against Washington, the ball deflected off the hands of a receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who accepted responsibility for the turnover.

Yesterday, however, was exclusively the fault of Jones. The interception was the latest in the line of hideous throws by the Patriots quarterback, some of which have been more memorable than others. To wit:

Trailing, 10-6, Jones took the snap with 4;25 to play with the Pats facing a second-and-12 at the Indianapolis 15-yard line. Mike Gesicki was obviously the intended target, but the ball was horrendously underthrown and resulted in this easy interception.

Admitted Jones: "It was a terrible throw. Practiced it, hit it in practice, snugged the throw and I knew where to do. I just didn't do it. Didn't do it right."

Another backbreaker, though this has been consistent theme all year. The were trailing the Dolphins, 14-7, but were on the verge of scoring just before halftime. On a first-and-10 from the Miami 23, Jones got baited into this throw by Jalen Ramsey, whose return set up a Miami field goal and a 17-7 Dolphins lead.

Two weeks before the Miami game, the Patriots visited Las Vegas and were driving with the chance to tie the score at 10-10. Trailing 10-5, Jones rolled to his right on second-and-5 from the Raiders' 30-yard line when he badly overthrew tight end Hunter Henry, who was open on the play. The pass was an easy interception for Tre'von Moehrig, whose takeaway sent Las Vegas off on a scoring drive that produced a field goal just before halftime. Just like the Miami game, the Patriots went from a potential tie to a 10-point deficit.

Less than three minutes after getting away with a risky throw the field that resulted in a completion to Kendrick Bourne, Jones inexplicably tried the same thing again - and paid the price dearly. Already trailing 21-3 on second-and-10 from the Dallas 48-yard line - and after being victimized on a strip sack that was returned for a touchdown - Jones threw this cupcake to DaRon Bland, who easily returned the pass for a Dallas touchdown and a 28-3 lead. It is worth noting that Bill Belichick stuck with Jones until much later in the game, when he was pulled for Bailey Zappe. Belichick was far more protective of Jones in his commentary at the time.

In retrospect, this was the omen of all omens, taking place on the Patriots' first offensive possession of the season. On second-and-5 from the Philadelphia 42-yard line, Jones overthrew Demario Douglas on what should have been an easy completion for a first down. On the ensuing third-and-5, he misfired on this ball to Bourne, who deflected the pass to Darius Slay, who promptly scampered 70 yards for a 10-0 Philadelphia lead. Newcomer Ezekiel Elliott (after a short reception) fumbled on the Patriots' very next offensive play to help produce another Philly touchdown and a 16-0 deficit - and the Patriots have been running uphill ever since.