Mac Jones admits that the trade from the Patriots to the Jaguars is 'a great decision'
a great decision
Mac Jones is back home.
The former New England Patriots quarterback was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars after struggling the past two seasons. And it seems both he and the Jaguars are excited about this fresh start.
And Jones made sure to convey that during his introductory press conference on Thursday with the Jaguars.
Here's everything Mac Jones said:
Jones: "I love this place. It's my hometown. Obviously there's a lot of good things going on around here and looking forward to learning everybody's names and just learning, playing good football."
Was it always a dream to play for the Jaguars?
"Yeah, a little bit. Obviously coming to the games and growing up as a fan and seeing all the good times and some of the bad times, obviously it was important for me to just fulfill my dream of playing in the NFL and obviously had a great opportunity in New England. Again, can't thank them enough. But happy to be here. As a kid from Jacksonville, it's definitely a dream come true.
Mac, it's been reported that the Patriots went to you and said, 'would you want to go back to Jacksonville?' Can you walk us through that process.
Jones: "Like I said, I have all the respect in the world for those guys up there. They're my first team. Drafted me in the first round. Can't thank them enough. And obviously we kind of just decided the mutual parting of ways was the best decision for both of us. For me it was just about moving on and getting back home, and I couldn't be more excited. And for them, it's about moving forward and turning the page. So really, that's what we decided, and I think it's a great decision."
How do you reflect on your time up there?
Jones: "A lot of great learning experiences. I learned from a great head coach. Obviously one of the greatest of all time. Been fortunate to kind of work with some great head coaches and learned a lot, played a lot of games, started a lot of games, and obviously things went the way they did. My goal is to kind of get the train back on the tracks. I think I can do that here and the coaches here have talked to me about that and just how I can help the room and how I can learn from Trevor (Lawrence) and everybody here. And obviously he's playing great football and he's done a great job here in Jacksonville so I'm excited to get back with him and C.J. (Beathard) and learn from them.
With the way everything kind of played out, do you have any personal regrets on how things worked out up there, or the way you handled it, or the way the Patriots handled it, or anything like that?
Jones: "I think what I said earlier, just like the learning part of it. Every experience is a good experience if you learn from it. So the games that we lost, the things that happened, obviously you don't ever want to lose, you want to win every game you play in. But I understand that sometimes really hard to do in the NFL. I don't have regrets. I feel like I put everything out there, gave a lot to that organization, and they gave a lot to me. So I'm going to do the same thing here in a good way and be myself, be Mac, and learn from, likek I said Trevor and C.J. and the coaches here that have a lot of offensive background. That'll be important for me and a big reason why I feel like this was a good fit."
What do you like most about being home?
Jones: "Obviously I haven't spent as much time back here as I would like, so it feels good to be back and just going to Alabama and then you get drafted up to the Northeast, it's a quick turnaround. You know how it is. From there life goes fast. So it feels good to be back. Obviously my parents live here and went to Bolles and so have a lot of friends around the area, but obviously my main focus is going to be football. But it just feels good. My grandma is here. She's never been to a game, so maybe we'll get her to a Jacksonville game to watch me. I think that'll be awesome, so you never know what happens. Its full circle.
Is this a relaunch for you? Do you look at this as, 'I want to be a starter at some point again in the league somewhere?'
Jones: "I always say, look where my feet are and this is a great opportunity for me to learn from Coach Pederson and the staff that he's assembled here a few years ago, and Trevor, and C.J. and guys that have played a lot of football and have played really well. So I'm going to do everything I can to get the train back on the tracks and get it moving in the right direction.
Coming into the league in the same year as Trevor, is there any kind of relationship there the last couple of years?
Jones: "Yeah for sure. I've known Trevor really for a bit of time here since high school and we have a few mutual friends and stuff, so I've always kept up with him. I have a lot of respect for his game and I'm here to just learn from him. He's obviously the captain, and he's a great player, and he's obviously done a lot of good things here, and really I just want to win."
Did you know anything about Doug Pederson before trade?
Jones: "Yeah of course. I mean Philadelphia and everything, and heard a lot of good things about him. Once again, there's some mutual connections there, whether that be where he played college football and things like that. So there's a lot of cool things there and I think he's a great coach. His track record is great. He understands the game because he's held the ball before, he's been back there, he's been on the ground looking up at the sky. So he knows. And that's something that Trevor probably appreciates is having a guy like that to tell him and see the game how we see the game as quarterbacks. And it sounds like everybody works together here and that was something that was encouraging to hear. It's a team effort and everyone is trying to win games."
Confidence in this league can obviously be a fickle thing. How's yours and do you still view yourself as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Jones: "That's a great point. It's about confidence, it's about putting in the work and doing everything right that you can. And I felt that I did that and I'm going to continue to do that. The results may he been there some days and may have not been there the others, but I think the important part for me is sticking to that process like I've always done. And just trying to get back to that, but at the same time, just knowing my role, knowing where I'm at. Just understanding that this a great spot for me in my hometown.
Does that put any more pressure on you, just being in the hometown?
Jones: "No. If anything, it's less. It feels good. It's all good and I feel like they're building a good thing here, so I'm just going to come in and work and improve myself, and obviously be a great teammate, put the team first, all those things."
Do you have a favorite memory from when you were playing at Bolles?
"I remember when we beat Raines, 60-20 maybe, in a playoff game. That was great because they kind of had our number for a little bit. But I have a lot of respect and still talk to some of those guys that were on those teams. Obviously my head coach Corky Rogers is a legend around here and rest his soul, but learned a lot from him and those are just great times. High school football, there's nothing better."
While other free agents are looking at houses and apartments right now, this is probably a unique experience for you.
Jones: "Yeah, I do know the area good and I don't think I'll be staying with my parents. Maybe, we'll see. But yeah, my mom's coming to pick me up in about 30 minutes so. It's kind of nice when your mom can pick you up from work. But it'll be good. I think, like I said, I'm just looking forward to meeting the guys and everyone. Like you said, they're all new here. Sounds like Gabe's not from far down the road so that's cool. So there is some Florida ties here and there. It's a great state and great city to be in.
Absorbing everything you've been through in the last few years.
"Absolutely. Like I said, everything moves pretty quick and you're in college and then you're drafted, and then you're playing in games. And for me, it's all about the evaluation process after the season. What can I get better at? How can I improve? And I feel like I did that this year already and went down to Texas and stayed in a sports barn for a month and just focused on football. All football and just what can I do better everyday, five days a week, weekends, all that. Just how can I watch tape? What can I do better? And that's just important for me as it is with any player. They're just trying to figure out what they can do better, so that's what I do every year."
