Fox Sports Host: Patriots Made Trade Offer For Aaron Rodgers
Instead of having to play against him twice a year, the New England Patriots almost had Aaron Rodgers playing for them.
During free agency last March, stories emerged about Bill Belichick supposedly shopping quarterback Mac Jones in trade proposals. According to one scenario - aired by Fox Sports 1 host Craig Carton - the Patriots made an offer to the Green Bay Packers in an attempt to bring Rodgers to Foxboro.
Carton, however, said Rodgers turned down the prospect of playing for the Patriots. He ultimately wound up accepting a trade to the AFC East-rival New York Jets.
"Aaron Rodgers almost wasn't a Jet," Carton said. "The New England Patriots made an offer to the Green Bay Packers to get Aaron Rodgers, and when Aaron Rodgers heard it, his agent said, 'No, we ain't playing for New England. We want to be a Jet."
Though no details of that possible trade offer is known, it's safe to assume New England's package to the Packers would have included Jones. If true, it would be another hiccup in the relationship between Belichick and his quarterback.
With the departure of last season's play-caller Matt Patricia, a "clean slate" offered by offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien and a short-but-sweet public endorsement from Belichick, Jones is getting a mulligan on 2022.
He drastically regressed during the 8-9 season, suffering an ankle injury that caused him to miss time and then barely fighting off a challenge for his job by rookie Bailey Zappe. Jones threw several temper tantrums on the field, was accused of being a "dirty" player by his peers and ultimately threw only 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions as the Patriots missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.
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