the Patriots not thrilled with the fact that the team hasn't
won a playoff game for three years because he said that
publicly during the league meeting. So they're trying to
build towards something
that can get to the playoffs and actually win when they get
there. Here is receiver. DeVante Parker and cornerback
Malcolm Butler, who's back with the Patriots after several year
absence yesterday at OTAs. Talking about the leadership
abilities of the quarterback Mac Jones who hopefully in his
second year will lead the
Patriots, back to the playoffs and actually win a game there.
He's a, he's like a human or later.
No, he's a young guy, but he's
also, he's a vocal as a leader in. That's what this team needs.
And even though it's why I've been here
a few few weeks, but
I still see it, though.
I like Meg, you know, I was at home watching him.
He got great energy on and off the field and
I like, I like,
His confidence his Swagger.
I love that about him.
Think about Mac Jones last year, arriving in New England
and who's there,
Cam Newton the big personality, one of the largest
Personalities in the entire National Football League
as the starter. He's the guy,
everyone loves him, Magnetic Personality. And here's the rookie.
Just trying to get his feet wet and figure out where to go and
how this all works.
And now this year, there's no Cam Newton
this year. Start to This from the day walks through the door
until week one. He's the guy
I think it does give you an opportunity
to
grow to develop out of your shell, a little bit to be vocal
and kind of take over the way that we see Mac Jones doing it.
Chris,
I think so. I mean, I agree with you first off, when you
play that way as a rookie and do what you did on the football
field. And of course, we were going through a period of time
where we were going.
Wait, Mac Jones is the Rookie of the Year.
I mean, he was the Rookie of the Year until the last four or
five weeks and Jamar Chase. It's just went off. So, you
know, you have that, you know, as far as
something to pelts on a wall, pelts on a horse as far as
like, okay, I can puff my chest out and be a leader.
I mean, was the quarterback of a team where we were sitting
there and week 12 or 13 going. I think the Patriots are
the best team in football so
that of course, is going to
encourage his leadership and I think Mike the point you make
also should encourage his ability to you know, show his
personality and be a leader. The fact that
I am Newton was there and that he didn't just outshine Mac Jones
and Mac Jones leadership, and personality was still felt
through that organization. Even with somebody like Cam Newton
there. I think that says a lot about the guy to it's the one
thing we're.
Hey, the look of the human being does not seem to match
the words that comes out of everybody's mouth. Yeah, Mac
Jones looks like a nerd. Got a bad picture on the internet
with his shirt off.
But anybody you talk to
whether it was coming out in the draft players and played
with the mountain. Bama. They love them and seemed to think
he has an unbelievable way with players and coaches and I think
that's of course why he's kicking butt up there in New
England.
It really was a transformation more stunning than Clark Kent
to Superman which was basically guy takes off his glasses in
his jacket, right? That's really all Clark. Kent is
Superman was when you take Mac Jones from his Alabama uniform
to his patrons are important. I mean,
I mean, we thought it'd hurt his draft stock because he just
looked kind of Clunky and lumpy, and misshapen and is
Alabama uniform. Then he shows up in this Patriot uniform, and
he is, where's the cape? I want to see him
fly. What are his superpowers? He looked like a superhero.
No doubt. I mean and just you know, never seem to be fazed at
all. Just ready to go. So what Bill Belichick, I'll buy in.
I'll Smite speak right to the media and do all the things
right on the football field. He does that. They get rid of Cam
Newton.
Boom. He hits the ground running
and really Again, I don't know what else more you can say
about Mac Jones as far as like, wow. I mean, what he was asked
to do
in year one of his career. Whoa, taking over from Tom.
Brady, two years later. He's on the schedule this year. They
made a bunch of moves and free agency and stuff and he came in
there and brought them to the playoffs and really never
blinked.
That that should give him the confidence to be the leader of
the football team that alone. I mean, that was a special
special first year for a guy in a very
Situation is not like they over managed him.
They asked them to do a lot and really make a lot of big-time
NFL throws throughout the season.
And the challenge this year. Josh, McDaniels gone. Now
the head coach at the Las Vegas Raiders. We had this persistent
mystery of
how involved is Bill Belichick who's going to call the plays,
etc. Etc. How long it actually,
we've seen what happens when you have revolving doors and
quarterbacks having to get used to new coordinators. I actually
think in a weird sort of way. It may be good for Mac Jones.
The more Bill Belichick is involved because that ensures
more continuity
back to Josh, McDaniels, I think guy who ultimately yes
was
was calling the shots as to what they were going to be
doing offensively is still there. And that's Bill
Belichick. We never, we quit thinking of him. And I don't
know when I know you can give him as a defensive coach who
just happened to be a head coach and he became a coach who
was an expert in both sides of the ball, but he's the only
defensive coach
we think of that way.
Really is the only coach we think of as transcending,
whatever side of the ball at was that was his background
before he became a head coach. No doubt my guy.
I mean when I was working there, he ran the Monday
Morning Quarterback meeting with Brady and the other
quarterbacks and they went over the film and he did it and
graded it and talk to.
I mean, so that's that's rare.
I mean that really is and I think your point
about balichek being involved is real
and I think that will continue to happen what's different here
about this situation. Now, it's not easy to replace McDaniels.
He's the man and of course is creative and knows how to tie
things together in a way that, you know, even for New England
is,
is pretty awesome.
But the system itself is not like it's Josh McDaniels system.
It's New England system. It was built through Josh McDaniels
and Charlie, Weis and Bill Belichick. And that to me is
going to give a leg up on this little weird situation. They
got on the offensive side of the ball with no offensive
coordinator.
You're right, Bill, there
is going to be groupthink led by Bill, and how to approach,
you know, third downs and 1st and 2nd down. And here's
the plays. I like and, you know, they'll know against those
plays.
Works against what coverage is and it's a New England system
would alone. I guess a little different than maybe just going
this Josh, McDaniels system that has left the building.
It is amazing after so many years, the Patriots being
regarded as the gold standard, the Platinum standard in
the NFL. They're just kind of nobody really has a feel for
them this year. And even though they made the playoffs last
year. I think that last memory of
them getting the crap stomped out of them by the bills
on a Saturday night in the Wild Card round. It makes people
think they're not going to be very good. And you know, where
is where is the evidence to think that they are going to
compete with all of these great teams and they have see what
the evidence is. They have Bill Belichick
and the It says, they're entering year to with Mac Jones
and he did pretty well last year. There were very low
expectations for Mac Jones, especially when we didn't even
think he was going
to start Chris.
I can't, I can't I know that it's different without Tom
Brady there, but I can't write off the Patriots because of
Bill Belichick. I just can't do it. No, no me neither. And
again, we know that they, that was a new team last year.
You know, let's see year to as we've discussed a lot. New
England, know the intricacies and their schematically attack.
Tack and everything they do there.
It's more intricate than other teams and there's there's a lot
there to digest. And when you're from a new team and
you've gone there, which they did last year. They had a note
whole new cast of characters.
I'm sure there was things out of their playbook and things
that kind of got left behind to, where they'll be a little
bit more advanced this year. Knowing that, hey, we got
the core of these guys back and we're going to be better. So
I'm certainly not counting them out. There's no doubt about
that. And yeah, you're right. Bill Belichick is the number
one reason. And there's a Lot of other good coaches there
too. But the players on the paint on paper, on the roster
itself.
It's still a really damn good group, but I expect them to be
highly competitive. That's for sure.