Mac Jones receives passionate defense from Patriots team leader
Devin McCourty doesn’t want to hear what sources are saying about Mac Jones
Free-agent safety Devin McCourty is still a big-time believer in New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
McCourty, who still hasn't decided whether or not he'll retire this offseason, believes the Patriots have and will continue to put their young quarterback in position to succeed this season and that Jones will thrive under new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.
"What I'll say about Mac is the (NFL Scouting Combine) is sponsored by NOBULL," McCourty said as a guest on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football." "Mac is NOBULL. They know the future is Mac Jones. And I'm excited for this guy this year because you get Billy O'Brien as offensive coordinator. Great success, has done well everywhere he's been offensively. He gets to come in and now work with Mac. He's going to have stability around him. I think the team is going to go get another guy to be a receiver in that offense, hopefully bring my guy Jakobi Meyers back and be a part of it.
"But I'm excited for it because last year, you come in, you have movement. You get to work with Josh McDaniels — who I think is one of the best offensive minds in this league — you get to work with him your rookie year. And then you get Matty (Patricia) with a mixture of Joe Judge and Coach (Bill) Belichick, all guys who were new to calling an actual offense. Obviously, Bill is more experienced than any coach in the NFL as a head coach really, but it's just so much movement, so much change. It's only your second year. I think it speaks volumes. He's a captain in that locker room in only his second year and really kind of was a captain the year before as a rookie leading those guys. So, I'm excited for Mac. I think sky's the limit. I think he's the future of New England. Any doubts? I think you're wrong if you don't think that. I think he's the future. He's in that building right now doing different things, working with guys, talking to guys. That's what he wants."
GMFB host Peter Schrager cut in and said there was talk Jones rubbed people in New England the wrong way as a second-year pro when he showed outward frustration at times on the field. McCourty's twin brother, Jason McCourty, a GMFB analyst, also mentioned some on-field issues, and Schrager gave the example of some of the QB's seemingly dirty plays.
"As a teammate, I don't care who he trips out here," McCourty said. "He wants to win. And I think that's what it's about. He comes from a winning pedigree at Alabama, wants to do those things. But I think some of the rumbling that always comes up, we always talked about this. 'Sources say Mac Jones rubbing people the wrong way.' Who? Did he rub somebody the wrong way in a meeting? Probably before. Have people left meetings and said, 'Man, Dev's an a-hole today?' Yeah. Because what I love about Mac is Mac came into a leadership role as a quarterback. And he speaks to what he thinks. He speaks about, 'Hey, I don't like this play. I want to do this play.' But same thing, you know, when I was in there, and when I'm in there, and I'm like, 'I don't like this play.' Because we're the guys out there.
"And I think what people don't always understand, in our locker room, Bill pushes that. If you don't want something, we're in the captains meeting every week. If you don't like something, tell us, we'll throw it out. Because what's the point of players going out there and saying as soon as that call comes in. Mac wears the green dot. I wear it on defense. I hate when a call comes in and I'm like, 'Hey fellas, I know we hate this call. But the call is XYZ.' Like no one wants to be out there with that. So, I think Mac has all the intangibles and the things that you want in a quarterback. He's only in his second year, going into his third year. Third offensive coordinator. Hopefully, you know Billy O's there for a while and I think you'll see the true growth."
Jones took a step back in 2022 after playing as the top rookie quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Despite New England paying a slew of money for Jones’ supporting cast, the Patriots’ offensive playmakers were not among the NFL’s best. O’Brien is expected to be a significant upgrade over last season’s offensive braintrust. This could wind up being a make-or-break year for Jones, however, since New England will need to decide whether or not to pick up his fifth-year rookie contract option after the 2023 season.
Featured image via Kris Craig/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
