Newton may not get another chance to start in the NFL, but the Patriots are at least keeping that possibility open for him elsewhere.Īnd so, the 2021 Patriots are Mac Jones' team. Either out of respect for Newton or fear that he wouldn't make the best backup, Belichick opted to cut him loose. That is, however, a risk the Patriots are willing to take. He was inactive for the rest of the season.) (Hoyer started the team's Week 4 game in Kansas City last year when Newton had COVID, but he was benched at halftime for taking a sack that cost the Patriots a field goal attempt. If some of the physical concerns that led to him being the fifth quarterback taken end up costing him some time during the season, the Patriots won't have Newton to step in and help the team win some games. Jones has barely been hit thus far, and he's already begun to wear a knee brace. The risk would be in the physical aspect of the NFL. Now, he'll have the opportunity to prove it to everyone else. Throw in the way that Jones shined during Newton's COVID protocol-mandated absence, and it's easy to see why the Patriots were impressed by the rookie. He could have had another 100 yards and two more touchdowns if not for some key drops. He completed 69.2 percent of his preseason passes, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt while throwing one touchdown and no interceptions. It's impressed everyone, from his teammates to his coaches to former Patriots like Julian Edelman and Rodney Harrison. Since then, Jones has displayed a tremendous arm, a tremendous work ethic, and a tremendous football IQ. And so, Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Justin Fields were drafted ahead of him. Despite throwing 41 touchdowns and four interceptions with 4,500 passing yards in 13 games, Jones' athleticism was a major question for the four QB-needy teams who picked ahead of the Patriots. Jones was the fifth quarterback taken in this year's draft, despite his undefeated, national championship season last year at Alabama, when he set an all-time NCAA record for completion percentage at 77.4 percent.
That figures to continue into the season. Veteran Brian Hoyer remains the consummate professional, and he's embraced his role as a mentor and part-coach for the rookie all year long. And now, there is no doubt: The Patriots are Mac Jones' team.
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