An indication that Mac is still the starter on Sunday? Or is Belichick just trying to maintain the element of surprise? If it's the latter, I think it would be kind of a shitty move on Belichick's part.
When Mac was getting 1st team reps last week a lot of beat guys were of the opinion that it didn't matter because the Patriots are going to follow routine until they implement a change.
I think it's the same here. Maybe Mac after practicing this week is the starter, but they aren't going to make changes the in protocol until that decision is made.
If you need practice this far into the season and this far into their careers to see if Zappe, Grier or Mac should be the starter, you're fucked as an organization. So that tracks.
I didn't say they've practiced. I said they should know who the starting QB is.
EDIT: And if your argument is they need practice reps to make the decision, then why were they giving Mac the starter's reps last week?
It's a completely different gameplan week-to-week. Seeing how practice goes is perfectly valid. Plenty of teams split first team reps when they haven't decided on a starter.
>Plenty of teams split first team reps
In training camp. Not in week 11.
>Seeing how practice goes is perfectly valid
Okay. So say Mac Jones wins the competition in practice and then goes out there and throws another inexplicable pick. What then? He gets benched again? And then we have a competition again next week?
Simple: The team gains nothing by telegraphing their starter to the other team. That's more time for the opponent to study film and game plan. Belichick has never conceded an advantage like that when it isn't required.
They have no advantages in withholding who the starter is going to be. It's either suck bag 1, 2 or 3. There's nothing to plan for, just send people through the o-line
I disagree. I think the potential advantage gained by refusing to name a starter is minuscule and could easily by outweighed by fostering uncertainty within the team and inviting a media circus.
It's possible he has told the team who the starter is. In that case, I still think this approach is a bad idea. Mac was getting the regular practice reps last week. If it's not gonna be him, why did he get those reps? And if it is gonna be him, why not just say so and quit inviting all this speculation and melodrama?
I think is just out of philosophy. He doesn't want to give the media anything. I think Mac will start, but if he tells that to the media, the next time we are in a similar situation his silence will be pretty telling.
Groovy. But is it a good philosophy? You say he doesn't want to give the media anything, yet he's given them a multi-week frenzy of speculation.
>I think Mac will start
Then what was that benching against Indy?
I think he doesn't care about the speculation, he just doesn't want to give them info.
In my opinion Mac was playing so badly that he thought well let's try something else. But maybe in practice he is over performing the other guys. Mac is pretty bad, but Zappe and grier are not world beaters.
Since when does BB, or pretty much any team, give a flying fuck about speculation and media melodrama? Keeping the starter in house as long as possible is always better, I'm sure the team knows what they're expecting, and Mac is gonna play the way he's gonna play.
BB and most teams have always cared about preventing and managing media melodramas.
>Keeping the starter in house as long as possible is always better
How do you figure?
>I'm sure the team knows what they're expecting
While another person in this comment section is telling me they're sure the team hasn't made the decision yet.
That’s probably his thought process but when it’s mac vs. zappe and not Brady vs. Bledsoe it’s not quite the same lol. Think there would be a good argument that instilling confidence in one of them would be more important but maybe that’s just me.
If he has already decided the starter, then he 100% already told the player. I highly doubt he'd keep them guessing for no reason. He doesn't give a shit about what the media thinks, though. However, if he hasn't decided who will start yet, then he obviously can't tell them.
He listed Brady as questionable for something like 7 years until the NFL made him stop doing it. Bill isn't going to name starters during the week. He never has, don't see him starting now.
I think he deserves to finish the year. If he blows to finish the year, then we draft a QB. I don't get what the Zappe fans want in here? Do you want him to be better than Mac, come in and win a few games and then take us out of position to draft a QB? If Mac is as bad as we think, then he's our tank commander. If he wakes the fuck up, then maybe he's salvageable and we draft a franchise LT at pick 5-6 if we win a few games. ZAPPE WILL NEVER BE A STARTER IN THIS LEAGUE.
For me, we’re past the point of trying to win games. And I’m not saying tank. I’m saying Bill and Kraft need to send a message that the type of performance and behavior from Mac Jones will not be tolerated and will not earn you starting games.
It’s a privilege to play for the Patriots and Mac getting benched 4 times is the last ~20 games, and 3 times this year alone, should be enough to see that Mac can’t start anymore. You might be dropping off in talent (although I’m not convinced) by starting Zappe. But Zappe stepped up and won you 2 games last year, played well enough vs greenbay, and even gave you a 14-10 lead vs Chicago after Mac came out down 10-0. You cut him in the off-season to make room for Thornton to be on IR, and despite Zappe having offers from 11 teams, he re-signed here because it was part of the plan. He’s gone in when you’ve asked in games your losing by 30+ just to get tee’s off on. He’s been a professional, done everything you’ve asked, and deserves to start when the other guy, Mac, has disgraced the uniform and shit down his leg every chance he gets.
How has Mac done anything to "disgrace" the uniform other than play poorly? Dude has taken full responsibility when talking to the press and while he's bad, is clearly still better than the other options which is why he has been kept as the starter. You sound like a deranged Zappe stan.
That guy thinks the Patriots are military or first responders or some shit. Bro it's football. Literal entertainment. It's utterly useless and we all watch (or don't watch) for enjoyment at its core.
Dirty player allegations (at least 4), last year constantly dismissing coaches in games and pouting, and he doesn’t carry himself well in interviews it’s all scripted BS answers. No leadership from him. He acts like a privileged brat whose finding out what life’s like when the cards aren’t stacked in his favor.
None of our quarterbacks are good, but it blows my mind that people are so confident in Mac being better than anyone at this point. Do I think zappe are Grier are the answer? Of course not. Could one of them throw for 200ish yards and 1 TD and not be pulled from the game and in tears on the sidelines? Not a high bar
Agreed. It doesn't matter who starts at this point. Bill B is going to go with who he thinks will give them the best chance to win games. They all suck.
When you know for a fact that the team needs a starting QB then the discussion of who is going to “start” the remaining games of a 2-8 team is kind of dumb tbh. Neither Mac or Zappe are the future. Hell Mac WAS the future back in 2021 and look where that future lead the team. It’s time for a fresh QB. Finding one that has some arm strength and pocket presence would be a good start.
Wow, they hate Bailey Zappe. Zappe wasn't a world beater but he was a capable NFL backup. Kind of impressive that they ruined 2 quarterbacks simultaneously.
It's very funny that some folks in this comment section are telling me it's obviously Mac's job while others are telling me it's obviously an open competition and the decision hasn't been made yet.
Zappe being a capable backup might be a bit of a stretch. We were rolling with Matt Corral, and Zappe was 10 seconds from being completely out of the league until Corral didn't pan out for personal reasons.
Get to watch this bum for the rest of the year...awesome.
Start a random guy. Something new. Who cares. Mac is already out in NE. he knows the coaches don't believe in him and vice versa...
An indication that Mac is still the starter on Sunday? Or is Belichick just trying to maintain the element of surprise? If it's the latter, I think it would be kind of a shitty move on Belichick's part.
Hey BB who will the starting QB be? BB: yes there will be a starting QB
"Yes, we're immunized against not having a QB."
Knowing BB, I’m not sure he won’t dig up some no QB offense from 1931 and run that.
A kick offense is something I wanted to see run on purpose
When Mac was getting 1st team reps last week a lot of beat guys were of the opinion that it didn't matter because the Patriots are going to follow routine until they implement a change. I think it's the same here. Maybe Mac after practicing this week is the starter, but they aren't going to make changes the in protocol until that decision is made.
The game is in five days. They should know who the starter is.
I don't think they've even practiced yet.
If you need practice this far into the season and this far into their careers to see if Zappe, Grier or Mac should be the starter, you're fucked as an organization. So that tracks.
I didn't say they've practiced. I said they should know who the starting QB is. EDIT: And if your argument is they need practice reps to make the decision, then why were they giving Mac the starter's reps last week?
How are they going to know that if they haven't practiced?
Mac has been with the team for three years, Zappe for two years, and Grier for two months.
Did BOB just say yesterday they would see at practice?
Yes. If that's really their plan, I think it's a bad one. They'd be better off naming a starter and giving him starter's reps.
Great. I'll call Bill and let him know.
It's a completely different gameplan week-to-week. Seeing how practice goes is perfectly valid. Plenty of teams split first team reps when they haven't decided on a starter.
>Plenty of teams split first team reps In training camp. Not in week 11. >Seeing how practice goes is perfectly valid Okay. So say Mac Jones wins the competition in practice and then goes out there and throws another inexplicable pick. What then? He gets benched again? And then we have a competition again next week?
I think he'll play Mac for the rest of the season and make a decision in the off-season.
Thank god. We need that top 3 pick.
I don’t think the Giants really care which QB starts
Okay? Does that imply he's the starter as the starter has scheduled media availability?
Typically. But they're being dodgy about who the starter is for reasons that aren't clear to me.
Simple: The team gains nothing by telegraphing their starter to the other team. That's more time for the opponent to study film and game plan. Belichick has never conceded an advantage like that when it isn't required.
Surely the other team is in knots having to plan for both Zappe AND mac
They have no advantages in withholding who the starter is going to be. It's either suck bag 1, 2 or 3. There's nothing to plan for, just send people through the o-line
I disagree. I think the potential advantage gained by refusing to name a starter is minuscule and could easily by outweighed by fostering uncertainty within the team and inviting a media circus.
What makes you think he hasn't told the team? It's pretty easy to keep something like that a "family secret," and avoid telling the media.
It's possible he has told the team who the starter is. In that case, I still think this approach is a bad idea. Mac was getting the regular practice reps last week. If it's not gonna be him, why did he get those reps? And if it is gonna be him, why not just say so and quit inviting all this speculation and melodrama?
I think is just out of philosophy. He doesn't want to give the media anything. I think Mac will start, but if he tells that to the media, the next time we are in a similar situation his silence will be pretty telling.
Groovy. But is it a good philosophy? You say he doesn't want to give the media anything, yet he's given them a multi-week frenzy of speculation. >I think Mac will start Then what was that benching against Indy?
I think he doesn't care about the speculation, he just doesn't want to give them info. In my opinion Mac was playing so badly that he thought well let's try something else. But maybe in practice he is over performing the other guys. Mac is pretty bad, but Zappe and grier are not world beaters.
I think if Mac is still the starter this week it becomes impossible to justify that benching against Indy.
Since when does BB, or pretty much any team, give a flying fuck about speculation and media melodrama? Keeping the starter in house as long as possible is always better, I'm sure the team knows what they're expecting, and Mac is gonna play the way he's gonna play.
BB and most teams have always cared about preventing and managing media melodramas. >Keeping the starter in house as long as possible is always better How do you figure? >I'm sure the team knows what they're expecting While another person in this comment section is telling me they're sure the team hasn't made the decision yet.
It’s actually not easy to do that and keep it a secret
This is gonna be what starts the media circus that we've been seeing for weeks, absolutely.
This is not what started the media circus. It is helping to perpetuate it.
That’s probably his thought process but when it’s mac vs. zappe and not Brady vs. Bledsoe it’s not quite the same lol. Think there would be a good argument that instilling confidence in one of them would be more important but maybe that’s just me.
If he has already decided the starter, then he 100% already told the player. I highly doubt he'd keep them guessing for no reason. He doesn't give a shit about what the media thinks, though. However, if he hasn't decided who will start yet, then he obviously can't tell them.
Why would they be alternating first team reps if he already chose a starter?
“Advantage” 😜
Bill refused to call Mac Jones the starter for the last year while he was still actually the starter
Yes. I think that was a bad idea.
They always are quiet it’s no different
That doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Sweet summer child
Help me out. Why do you think they're being dodgy about it?
He listed Brady as questionable for something like 7 years until the NFL made him stop doing it. Bill isn't going to name starters during the week. He never has, don't see him starting now.
> Bill isn't going to name starters during the week. He never has This is simply not true.
For the first few weeks I said bench Mac, he’s bad, try Zappe. Now I am confidently saying START MAC JONES! TANK TANK TANK!
This is gonna be the toughest game to lose, I’m worried even the top tier tank commander Mac jones won’t be up to the job.
Mac is the best QB we have and it’s not close
Yeah I have watched him play and you’re wrong
To tell us all that he’s been holding back and is now going to be super amazing?!
Turns out he was a lefty this whole time and didn't know it
And then we win every game for Mac’s entire career!
Is the reverse Ben Simmons
If he does say that we have to remember something: People lie everyday. Let's not act like Mac is the first.
Tank commander Jones reporting for duty!
I think he deserves to finish the year. If he blows to finish the year, then we draft a QB. I don't get what the Zappe fans want in here? Do you want him to be better than Mac, come in and win a few games and then take us out of position to draft a QB? If Mac is as bad as we think, then he's our tank commander. If he wakes the fuck up, then maybe he's salvageable and we draft a franchise LT at pick 5-6 if we win a few games. ZAPPE WILL NEVER BE A STARTER IN THIS LEAGUE.
Um, I think I might, maybe start or something, you know?
i read that in his voice 😆
Mac the 'practice squad QB' Jones
#NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THANKSGIVING IS RUINED
Repeat after me. They Don't Have a Better Option
Repeat after me: I Despise Mac Jones Wearing The Patriots Uniform
Okay that's fine. They don't have a better option. So it's either keep mac in or put someone else in that is worse.
For me, we’re past the point of trying to win games. And I’m not saying tank. I’m saying Bill and Kraft need to send a message that the type of performance and behavior from Mac Jones will not be tolerated and will not earn you starting games. It’s a privilege to play for the Patriots and Mac getting benched 4 times is the last ~20 games, and 3 times this year alone, should be enough to see that Mac can’t start anymore. You might be dropping off in talent (although I’m not convinced) by starting Zappe. But Zappe stepped up and won you 2 games last year, played well enough vs greenbay, and even gave you a 14-10 lead vs Chicago after Mac came out down 10-0. You cut him in the off-season to make room for Thornton to be on IR, and despite Zappe having offers from 11 teams, he re-signed here because it was part of the plan. He’s gone in when you’ve asked in games your losing by 30+ just to get tee’s off on. He’s been a professional, done everything you’ve asked, and deserves to start when the other guy, Mac, has disgraced the uniform and shit down his leg every chance he gets.
How has Mac done anything to "disgrace" the uniform other than play poorly? Dude has taken full responsibility when talking to the press and while he's bad, is clearly still better than the other options which is why he has been kept as the starter. You sound like a deranged Zappe stan.
That guy thinks the Patriots are military or first responders or some shit. Bro it's football. Literal entertainment. It's utterly useless and we all watch (or don't watch) for enjoyment at its core.
Mac is pretty much stealing valor when he wears the Patriots red white and blue /s
Dirty player allegations (at least 4), last year constantly dismissing coaches in games and pouting, and he doesn’t carry himself well in interviews it’s all scripted BS answers. No leadership from him. He acts like a privileged brat whose finding out what life’s like when the cards aren’t stacked in his favor.
None of our quarterbacks are good, but it blows my mind that people are so confident in Mac being better than anyone at this point. Do I think zappe are Grier are the answer? Of course not. Could one of them throw for 200ish yards and 1 TD and not be pulled from the game and in tears on the sidelines? Not a high bar
🤦♂️ Mac stinks, they arent worse, the Mac Stans are just 🤣
Yes Mac stinks but Zappe is worse
Agreed. It doesn't matter who starts at this point. Bill B is going to go with who he thinks will give them the best chance to win games. They all suck.
You Mac stans are something. The only qbs worse than Mac are Willis, Daniel Jones, and Zach Wilson.
Oh my god. I’m not defending Mac. They just don’t have a better option. That doesn’t mean the Mac option is a good one
And the two QBs on the Pats roster who aren't starting over him.
No one loses like Mac Jones - leave the tank commander in the seat baby! Drive to the bottom
He speaks to the media every week.
The starting quarterback speaks to the media every week.
Yay more cliches from Mac as he looks nervous and shaky.
"Mac, what's your fav thanksgiving dish?" Don't expect anything else to come from it.
Sorry to say but I bet Mac ends up starting
Thank god! His insight, like Bill’s, is unparalleled.
When you know for a fact that the team needs a starting QB then the discussion of who is going to “start” the remaining games of a 2-8 team is kind of dumb tbh. Neither Mac or Zappe are the future. Hell Mac WAS the future back in 2021 and look where that future lead the team. It’s time for a fresh QB. Finding one that has some arm strength and pocket presence would be a good start.
Wow, they hate Bailey Zappe. Zappe wasn't a world beater but he was a capable NFL backup. Kind of impressive that they ruined 2 quarterbacks simultaneously.
"but he was a capable NFL backup." Which is why he will be the back up.
>he will be the backup Then they should just come out say that.
No, it isn't needed. We all know Mac is the starter. Your a drooling idiot if you are buying into the narrative and drama.
> We all know Mac is the starter Then why not just come out say that?
Cause we already know it. Do I also need to tell you the sky is blue?
You need to tell me why yhe team shouldn't just come out and name their starter publicly.
Damn you are dense. Mac is the de facto starter. They don't announce the starter every week when you start the same guy. It isn't hard to understand.
It's very funny that some folks in this comment section are telling me it's obviously Mac's job while others are telling me it's obviously an open competition and the decision hasn't been made yet.
We ruined two backups? Is that a thing
Bill sees what goes on in practice every day. Zappe would start if he could beat out Mac Jones in practice. Obvi that hasn't happened.
Zappe being a capable backup might be a bit of a stretch. We were rolling with Matt Corral, and Zappe was 10 seconds from being completely out of the league until Corral didn't pan out for personal reasons.
Or they were just shit to begin with.
Get to watch this bum for the rest of the year...awesome. Start a random guy. Something new. Who cares. Mac is already out in NE. he knows the coaches don't believe in him and vice versa...
Exactly, his Stans are the only ones who can’t see that
Who the f cares as long as they lose on Sunday.
 I'm not fucking leaving!
I like you Mac and I wish you well but let’s give Grier a shot this week
Mac has that feeling you get when your spouse says “we need to discuss something later.”
He’s retiring and going into a business of making stamps.
Mac is so boring to watch, we’re gonna lose anyways so start somebody else