Former Patriots starter points to the one decision that derailed the last three years of the franchise
Former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had a very strong rookie season back in 2021. However, it was a steep decline during his second and third year in the league. So what happened? Speaking on “The Athletic Football Show,” running back Damien Harris pointed a finger at Bill Belichick for Jones' struggles. “What happened to Mac […]
Former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had a very strong rookie season back in 2021. However, it was a steep decline during his second and third year in the league.
So what happened?
Speaking on “The Athletic Football Show,” running back Damien Harris pointed a finger at Bill Belichick for Jones' struggles.
“What happened to Mac Jones in New England, was not because of Mac Jones,” Harris said. “What happened in New England to Mac Jones was because of the fact you took away an offensive coordinator who coached him to be a Pro Bowler and almost coached us to winning our division with a rookie quarterback in his first year.”
Following Jones' rookie season, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to take a job as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Belichick then elected to bring in former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia along with the help of Joe Judge to lead the offense.
Harris admitted that he felt like Patricia and Judge were taking plays from "Madden," and they all "knew before the first game" that is wasn't going to be successful.
“You just throw them in there and say, ‘Hey, coach this kid up. He’s a first round pick, but as long as you teach him what I say, everything gonna be fine,’” Harris said. “(Expletive) wasn’t fine.”
And if anybody tried to speak up about it?
“it was (met with) a very, very quick, swift, ‘Shut the (expletive) up,’” Harris continued “‘I know what I’m doing.’ And that’s it.’”
Harris didn't hold back on the podcast, saying what he thought that entire season. And now that Jones has been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars and appears happier than ever, he decided it was the right time.
"It shouldn’t have (gone) the way that it went,” Harris said. “The only reason that it did was because Bill Belichick, being stuck in his ways, was very much so ‘As long as I am here. As long as I am, along with Robert Kraft, the top dog at this organization. We will have success.’”
