When you’re coached by college football legend Nick Saban and move on to the next level to learn under future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, more times than not you’re going to be a version of a football robot.
Wake up. Work out. Practice. Study. Sleep. Repeat.
It almost seems as if there’s more of a routine than the average player. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. But it feels that way.
And with that comes training for speaking with the media.
First-round pick Mac Jones has carried the torch successfully, it seems, from Tuscaloosa to Foxborough.
He’s already talking to the media similar to Bill Belichick. There’s a script to follow, folks.
Mac Jones was asked to compare Foxborough to Alabama:
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) June 10, 2021
"There’s differences, there’s similarities, but we’re not here to draw comparisons."
The man takes coaching well.
Mac Jones is already talking to the media like a true Patriots leader.
The craziest part is that this wasn’t even a polarizing question! “Hey Mac, you’ve played for the greatest college football program in history and are now moving on to arguably the greatest franchise in NFL history. Tell us some cool stuff you’ve noticed so far!”
Not in New England! Provide the vaguest of general answers and then offer no further comment or express that it’s “not the time to be talking about that.”
That response may have bumped him up on the depth chart regardless of how Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer are performing in OTAs.
https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/1403048434127486991?s=20
And another one! “Hey Mac, what’s been going on? How’s the learning curve? Are you feeling good making the adjustment to the next level?”
“Actually, I have imaginary buckets that I put intangible stuff into and then just take it from there.”
Great, thanks!
Asked Mac Jones about hard coaching from Josh McDaniels: "Josh, he expects everything to be perfect. That's why he's so great at what he does. Our relationship is great...if you miss one detail, it's not good enough." #Patriots pic.twitter.com/ZfJXTky5Ob
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) June 10, 2021
This one was good, though. He did elaborate upon Josh McDaniels’ attention to detail and how the offensive coordinator is holding the rookie accountable from Day 1, which is really what’s to be expected from the Patriots. It’s not exactly news.
The silver lining here? It seems Jones knows his role. He’s a rookie, he’s got his work cut out for him, and he has an impression to make. But it’s clear he’s already abiding by the Patriots’ off-field handbook.
Thank goodness we have Cam Newton as a change of pace. Hopefully he’ll be there to bring “Mac and Cheese” back down to earth if he’s getting too serious.
Patriots: Cam Newton finally gives rookie Mac Jones his long-awaited nickname
New England Patriots starting quarterback Cam Newton has welcomed Mac Jones to the team by giving him a perfectly suited nickname.