What Bill Belichick's departure means for Mac Jones
Does Mac get another season to prove himself?
Bill Belichick has officially left the building. Now, the Patriots are coachless and are without a general manager. Most importantly, there is a roster without a head coach that needs some fine-tuning. One of those players who needs some fine-tuning happens to be the quarterback, the most critical position on the team.
It's no secret that Mac Jones had a challenging third season in New England. Some of it was his fault, and some were Belichick's fault for not building around him. After his impressive rookie season, his career has taken a nosedive. But it appears his confidence has also, especially with Bailey Zappe taking over the reins as the starting quarterback.
But, Bill Belichick is gone. So what does this mean for Mac Jones? It means many things. For starters, it means he has a chance for a fresh start without leaving the organization. Jones no longer has Belichick breathing down his neck; he'll have a new head coach to impress instead.
Most importantly, though, with a new head coach and uncertainty at the quarterback position, there's a strong chance there will be a quarterback competition this summer at training camp, and Jones once again will be at battle fighting to win the starting job. No matter who the head coach will be, their eyes will be on Jones and whomever else will compete to win the coveted starting quarterback position.
Lastly, there's a financial side to all this. Jones and his agent will not be negotiating with Belichick for a new deal if Jones desires to stay in New England after everything he's been through. Instead of going into a financial war with his head coach, he will be discussing with someone new to the position.
We now definitely know that there's change coming to Foxboro. The draft, free agency class, and current roster plans are now put on hold as a transition of power happens. But, there's one thing sure: for now, Mac Jones is in New England, and he has a brand new chance to prove himself to a possibly brand new coaching staff or just some new coaches that have what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
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