Since the start of the new millennium in 2000, the year 2020 marked only the fourth time the New England Patriots failed to qualify for the playoffs. Tom Brady was no longer with the team, but even then, Bill Belichick remained confident. He tried to rebuild the offense with Cam Newton under center, but it didn’t work out. Eventually, the Patriots selected Alabama quarterback Mac Jones in the first round (15th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In his rookie year, the signal caller had outstanding success with a 10-7 record in 17 games. He also completed 352 of 521 passes (67.6% completion rate) in 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. But something was off. Analysts sensed it for the first time when the then-head coach did an unusual experiment after splendid success in 2021. The very next year, in 2022, the HC brought in Joe Judge as their offensive assistant and quarterback coach and Matt Patricia as offensive play-caller. The entire NFL world watched with shock. End result! The team failed to qualify for the playoffs again.
3 years after this, fans still criticize Bill Belichick for his wrong actions. While discussing the future of Mac Jones on the April 4 episode of NFL on NBC, Mike Florio got angry at the legendary coach and said, “Look, Mac Jones gets plenty of criticism, and some of it may be deserved. But the reality is Bill Belichick made one of the single dumbest coaching decisions we’ve ever seen by putting Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in charge of the offense in 2022.” That’s right.
Matt Patricia has worked his whole life in defense. From 2012 to 2017, he was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator. Joe Judge also worked as a special teams coordinator from 2015 to 2018. Moreover, both were coming back from failed stints as the head coach. Who paid the price? Mac Jones.
The hit to his confidence was so brutal that his performance as a starting quarterback declined each season. In 2022, he won 6 games and lost 8. The following year, he posted a 2-9 record in 11 games. His passing yards and touchdowns also dropped significantly. Still, the Patriots held on to him—at least as long as Bill Belichick was around.
But when Belichick’s time in New England came to an end, so did Mac Jones’s backing. The legendary coach couldn’t land another NFL job and eventually shifted to college football. Mac Jones is trying to secure his place. He has now gone to the franchise, which might have drafted him in 2021.
Mac Jones & Kyle Shanahan – A move that came 4 years late
In 2021, the 49ers, led by HC Kyle Shanahan, made a deal with the Dolphins. They traded a first-round pick (12th) of that year and the next two years (2022 and 2023) and a 3rd round pick in 2022 to get the first round (3rd overall) in 2021. While many people hoped that they would sign Mac Jones, they signed North Dakota QB Trey Lance.
After 4 years, while trying to reach the valid extension amount for Brock Purdy, the HC and front office signed the Patriots QB on a 2-year $7 million deal. Jones brings experience with him that might help the Niners Empire rise back to its glory.
The 49ers HC praised Mc Jones and said, “I loved how he played the position, especially in college. He got the ball to the right spots, didn’t take sacks, would hang in there and get hit and distribute the ball to his playmakers. I’ve seen him do it in the NFL at a high level. And we’re excited to get him working in our offense.” However, the questions still remain. Will they keep him as a backup or give him chances as a starter?
The HC is trying to dodge such questions as there are plenty of scenarios that could happen. It will depend on their QB, Brock Purdy. Jones has to be ready to seal the deal when it comes his way.
The post Bill Belichick Thrown Under the Bus for 3-YO Mistake That Ruined Mac Jones as Kyle Shahanan Shells $7M to Make His Wish Come True appeared first on EssentiallySports.
