Mike Reiss of ESPN joins Zolak and Bertrand in studio for his regular appearance following the Patriots win over the Browns on Sunday in Cleveland. Check out below for some of the highlights of what Reiss had to say about Bailey Zappe, Mac Jones and his movie review of “The Perfect Storm”
What's better - Bailey Zappe or Mac Jones at 75 percent?
New England Patriots quarterbacks #10 Mac Jones and #4 Bailey Zappe share a laugh at practice. (Bob Breidenbach/The Providence Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK)
“Right on the edge, I think I would say. I think I would say if it’s 75, I think I would say Zappe. Here’s my take on this: I haven’t got the sense from anyone on the team just from talking to them that Max job is in any jeopardy. So I don’t think this is a controversy. That’s what it is. But I do think it’s a conversation which is a difference. And the way that Zappe has played the last two games and I would say against lower level defenses, which I think is an important part of this conversation, has bought them more time. To me, it’s “why risk it?”. Because I still think that ultimately this will be Mac playing quarterback for the Patriots at some point this season. Part of what’s tricky about this is we have a small sample size with Zappe against two pretty poor defenses. The Lions and the Browns. Very low rated defenses. If if we see the way if he plays the same way against a better defense now, I think it becomes even a different conversation.”
Why did Mac Jones travel to Cleveland?
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 18: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots warms up before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
I don’t think Mac needs any motivation. I don’t think he needs anything more to stay engaged. I strongly believe that he felt like on Saturday he thought there was a chance that he could play, that he could get there, but he was unsure of it. From some point when he got there in Cleveland to whenever Zappe found out on Saturday, assume it’s the night, who gives you the best chance to win? To me, it’s Mac. And putting a guy who’s less than 100% on the sideline to stand there, sending them on the plane, to me that makes no sense. And you’re telling me Bill Belichick, who hates distractions, wants Mac Joneson the sideline? To me, if you’re injured and you’re not playing, Bill Belichick doesn’t want you around. He doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want the CBS camera on Mac Jones. He doesn’t want all of us in the tunnel taking the video of Mac walking in. That is so anti-Belichick.
