By: Steve Atkinson
Mac Jones has had throwing sessions this off-season. He’s had them at local fields most recently in Walpole. Tyquan Thornton, Kendrick Bourne, Mike Gesicki, and Bailey Zappe, have been there. JuJu Smith-Schuster wasn’t there because he was on vacation according to his Instagram at the time. Smith-Schuster is making headlines this week because he said he hasn’t thrown with Mac yet. That’s because he was here for five minutes to sign the contract then went away. Don’t believe the other narrative that sports radio is trying to spin that Mac hasn’t reached out. He reached out to Mike Gesicki and let him stay in his basement.
Even Mike Gesicki talked about Mac’s arm during the throwing sessions.
Mac Jones & Bailey Zappe spotted today at the South Walpole Community Athletic Complex. New Patriots addition Mike Gesicki was there as well as Tyquan Thornton, Scotty Washington, & Pierre Strong.
First day of official offseason workouts at One Patriot Place start April 17th. pic.twitter.com/WOiQkk0YBp
— Babz (@BabzOnTheMic) April 11, 2023
Why does sports radio and people not get that Mac is trying to block out the noise and get ready for the season? So what he wasn’t at the Celtics game with Zappe, Bourne, Thornton, and other teammates. He was bowling a few weeks ago with those same teammates with Zappe not there. Did sports radio talk about Mac bowling with teammates? Nope! But they made sure to mention the backup quarterback was at a Celtics game.
The boys are bowling 🎳#Patriots QB Mac Jones, WRs Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, and Lynn Bowden, and RB JJ Taylor hit the lanes post-workout as New England’s offseason program continues on.
(IG: @BournePoly11) pic.twitter.com/AUcpbdhsgs
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) April 19, 2023
JuJu Smith-Schuster spoke to the media also this past week and hasn’t thrown with Mac yet. Do not believe the sports radio narrative Smith-Schuster was on vacation. If he stayed local after signing his deal Mac would’ve thrown with him too.
“Most definitely, most definitely. We definitely have enough,” Smith-Schuster told reporters on Tuesday. “We’ve got guys who can run down the field. We’ve got guys that can do a lot of different things. What’s crazy about this offense that I didn’t know about until I got here was that there’s guys that play both ways. There’s guys that can play receiver, that can play in the backfield, and seeing that you can have so many different weapons with these players, it just gives Mac these opportunities to do whatever he wants.”
Mac Jones Is In A Prove It Year In 2023
People can believe what they want that there will be a quarterback competition this summer because everyone is the next Tom Brady. Nobody is ever going to be Tom Brady so Patriots fans need to get that out of their head. The benefit Mac does have is watching Brady’s film from his time with the Patriots. But the other half is how to deal with Bill Belichick’s ego.
Mac Jones answers to Bill O’Brien who will then report to Belichick. Did the Patriots do enough this offseason and draft to help Mac Jones? That remains to be seen.
Mac Jones Was In New England All Offseason
Mac stayed in New England the entire offseason he didn’t go train somewhere else or attend Kendrick Bourne’s wedding in Seattle which sports radio never talked about. He trained and saw that Kraft was going to make changes and hire Bill O’Brien. Maybe Belichick was trying to trade Mac before the combine but Kraft wouldn’t let him do it. Belichick still won’t take ownership from last year and is still salty about it towards Kraft and Mac.
All Mac can do is go to work control what he can control and have a good year. It’s an important year for him as the Patriots will need to decide on the fifth-year option next offseason.