The three letters of ‘NFL’ historically stand for ‘Nationwide Soccer League,’ however the acronym additionally serves as a harrowing reminder: ‘not for lengthy.’ The common size of an NFL participant’s profession is simply 3.3 years, and whereas signing multi-million greenback contracts is a flashy enterprise, as soon as these checks dry up, gamers may be in a tricky place.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is perhaps within the means of studying that truth the laborious method as questions swirl surrounding his future in Massachusetts. The third-year signal-caller has thrown for as many interceptions as touchdowns — ten — in ten video games this season and acquired benched after an unsightly fourth-quarter interception within the Patriots’ sport in Frankfurt, Germany, earlier this month.
The Patriots have a hideous 2-8 document so far within the season. If even legendary head coach Invoice Belichick looks as if he is perhaps on the recent seat, one can ensure that no person’s job is protected in Foxborough, particularly not Jones, who has grow to be a focus of the workforce’s struggles.Proper now, the workforce has lower than a one % likelihood of constructing the playoffs: Massachusetts’ sportsbooks and Sports activities Betting Promos record them at or round +150000 to win the Tremendous Bowl this yr, tied for the longest odds within the league.
The Patriot Means: Protecting Issues In-Home
New England had their bye week after getting back from Europe, and the hole within the motion meant there was loads of time to debate Jones’ future with the workforce.
In true Belichick-ian requirements, the legendary head coach categorically averted answering any questions by the media in regards to the quarterback controversy brewing in Foxborough, deflecting the main focus to your entire workforce’s want to enhance.
After the Frankfurt sport, Jones averted answering whether or not he nonetheless held the beginning position. As a substitute, he mentioned the workforce was busy watching movies and specializing in their bye week. He didn’t deflect all of the questions that media members requested him, although, giving followers and journalists an enchanting window into what gamers take care of when it appears nothing goes proper.
To his credit score, even when he wouldn’t delve into the specifics of who will begin the following sport for the Patriots, Jones was very candid in discussing his profession outlook. It’s no simple job to battle at your job in entrance of hundreds of thousands of individuals every week, however Jones didn’t mince phrases in discussing what he must do transferring ahead.
Mac Jones Will get Candid
“Simply specializing in issues I can management,” Jones mentioned when requested how he needed to enhance his sport transferring ahead. “I’ve at all times achieved that. I actually need to enhance, clearly, and that’s what I’m going to give attention to.”
He additionally acknowledged the feelings he and the remainder of his teammates had been going via because the disappointing season continued.
“I believe everybody’s annoyed,” Jones mentioned. “And clearly I’m, too. And there are a variety of issues that I want I may do higher… I’ve type of recognized these issues. And that’s the place all of it begins.”
Most athletes appear to overflow with confidence, at the same time as their season crashes down round them: physique language is necessary, as is the idea that one can nonetheless discover a method to win it doesn’t matter what the chances towards them are.
As such, it was fascinating to listen to Jones speak about how his confidence has wavered attributable to his profession struggles.
“I believe my confidence comes from my self-discipline and all of the issues I’ve achieved all through the years simply to realize that,” Jones mentioned. “And naturally, at occasions, as an athlete, that will likely be challenged. However on the finish of the day, I have to trust in myself.”
Patriots’ Future Quarterback: The Closing Phrase
Regardless of how unhealthy issues look proper now, one factor that works in Jones’ favor is that he would possibly nonetheless be the Patriots’ best choice, irrespective of how poorly he performs. Second-string quarterback Bailey Zappe has appeared in seven regular-season video games because the workforce picked him within the fourth draft spherical final season, throwing 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in these video games.
Third-string choice Will Grier has bounced round to numerous groups throughout his 5 years within the league, by no means getting a lot likelihood to start out… maybe for an excellent cause.
If I had been the Patriots, I’d give Jones no less than the remainder of this season to show he belongs within the NFL. Once more, that’s not a praise to his efficiency: merely stating that the workforce has no higher choice proper now. If Jones isn’t the quarterback of the longer term, mentioned quarterback will not be on the workforce’s roster proper now.
