Ex-Patriots implore team to make this trade call
By Fran Brown
A day after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft dropped the nugget of rapper Meek Mill texting him that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson would like to be a Patriot, it seems that a few former Patriots would like the team to get involved with the Jackson sweepstakes.
Appearing on ESPN’s “Get Up“, the recently retired Devin McCourty implored the Patriots to make the call on Jackson.
"“You have to make a call and see. This guy won MVP of the league. He’s one of the rare quarterbacks that you say, “he’s a guy”. When he gets out there, he can go change a franchise.”"
While Tedy Bruschi wasn’t as sold on the idea, he said the Patriots should call because, “you got to see what’s up”.
McCourty’s comments come a week after saying that the locker room was split on whether or not Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe should have been the starting quarterback last season.
The issue with trading for Jackson would be his rumored wanting of a fully guaranteed contract like that of Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. This would be a contract unlike any the Patriots have ever handed out and would ideally go against the wishes of Bill Belichick.
But with Kraft also dropping hints of Jerod Mayo becoming the head coach of the Patriots in the near future, maybe this isn’t a problem Belichick will worry about too much. If he is only around for another season or two, why would he be worried about the team’s cap situation down the road? Plus, the addition of a former MVP like Jackson would definitely give Belichick a better shot of reaching the 19 wins he needs to surpass Don Shula as the NFL’s all-time winningest coach than either Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe would.
Will Belichick make the move in order to get himself the wins record? With the team on the verge of entering the 2023 NFL season with the worst quarterback situation in their division, at the very least, he should give the Baltimore Ravens a call.