Bill Belichick-Mac Jones Rift: Patriots Coach Shopping QB in Trade Talks?
Never a good sign when a team's pre-draft narrative isn't about prospective picks, but rather rumors about the starting quarterback's rift with the head coach and the possibility of a new one's arrival on the horizon.
But such is life these days with the suddenly dysfunctional New England Patriots, where the Lamar Jackson rumors won't die and the divide between Bill Belichick and Mac Jones seems to be growing by the day.
Tuesday morning it's Pro Football Talk throwing fuel on the fire, citing a source that claims Belichick has recently been calling multiple teams shopping Jones in a trade. The potential suitors: Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Commanders.
"Obviously, a trade hasn’t occurred yet. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen," writes PFT. "A team hoping to draft a quarterback could pivot to Jones, if that team doesn’t get the guy it wants."
The Raiders recently signed former Patriot Jimmy Garoppolo, seemingly taking them out of the running for a starter. The Texans have the second overall pick in the April 27 NFL Draft. The Bucs recently signed Baker Mayfield, so they're likely still in the market. And the Commanders have only second-year Sam Howell and veteran re-tread Jacoby Brissett on their roster.
We've chronicled the seemingly unraveling relationship between Belichick and Jones, dating back to last season.
First, there was the quarterback controversy between Jones and rookie Bailey Zappe. Then the coach refused to back his quarterback when the rest of the league labeled him a "dirty" player. And at last week's NFL owners meetings Belichick only offered a cryptic answer when asked about the Pats' quarterback position entering the NFL Draft.
“Everybody will get a chance to play,” Belichick said. “We’ll play the best players.”
We even wrote this morning that Belichick remains "pissed off" at Jones for seeking outside counsel during the turbulent 2022 season.
And, of course, multiple NFL analysts are still connecting the Lamar dots to Foxboro.
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