![]() Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts celebrates the Philadelphia Eagles’ overtime win against the Buffalo Bills. His time as the starter could run out much sooner. That would cause his deal to expire after next season. But no NFL coach would want Jones in his current state, and the Patriots could have a no-brainer this offseason in declining the fifth-year option on Jones’ rookie contract. Belichick’s status, too, will be up for discussion as long as the most accomplished coach in league history languishes in a failed post-Brady experiment. ![]() Jones’ future isn’t the only subject of New England speculation at the moment. Whether Jones starts going forward or not, quarterbacks who suffer that many benchings do not tend to have enduring partnerships with their coaches. But benching Jones, a recent first-round pick, four times in one season says all one needs to know about Belichick’s evaluation. And the coach is famously prickly and when reporters pry for information about which QB he prefers. Belichick has not liked his backup, 2022 fourth-round pick Zappe, enough to give him a start yet this season. Jones is of course losing more than ever, but he’s throwing more interceptions, fewer touchdowns, and less productive average passes than ever before. The 2023 season has only brought further decline. By playing miserably, Jones has given the Patriots a decent shot at drafting a superior successor to him next year. For the moment, they’re positioned to pick third overall in the 2023 draft. Jones’ two interceptions and 89 yards on 12-of-21 passing helped the Patriots drop to 2-9. The Patriots fell when kicker Chad Ryland missed a 35-yard field goal as time expired, but that may prove to be a long-term victory. In a 10-7 loss to a mediocre New York Giants team on Sunday, Belichick benched Jones for the fourth time this season, in favor of Bailey Zappe. The situation gradually disintegrated in 2022 as Jones failed to progress, and it looks in tatters 12 weeks into the current season. ![]() The Patriots made it to the playoffs, and though Jones had some limitations, he looked like Belichick’s partner for the long haul. Belichick and Jones’ first year together was a vision Jones wasn’t a star, but he was the most productive rookie quarterback in a class that included Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Trey Lance (yikes) and Zach Wilson (double yikes). But in 2021, Belichick decided to settle down again he drafted Jones, who had just led Alabama to a national championship, with the 15th pick. He had unproductive flings with Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham in 2020’s pandemic-disrupted season. When Bill Belichick broke his historic bond with Tom Brady after the 2019 season, he was adrift. Mac Jones and the New England Patriots have had a classic relationship arc.
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