Bill Belichick was famous for frosty and vague press conferences when his New England Patriots were winning. Now they’re doing the opposite, and his answers haven’t changed.
As a result, Mac Jones hasn’t been benched as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. But he hasn’t done anything to earn a vote of confidence from his head coach.
24 hours after Jones earned a deserved benching and backup Bailey Zappe extinguished the team’s comeback hopes with a last minute interception in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the future Hall of Fame head coach was asked what New England’s plan was going forward at the position. Belichick was purposefully vague in a way that inspired little hope in Jones’ future.
Bill Belichick on the plan at quarterback:
"Yeah, we just got back from Germany. … We'll look at everything across the board." pic.twitter.com/0QmY4TrBuV
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) November 13, 2023
That’s a diplomatic way to say everything stinks right now, which it surely does. The Patriots were optimistic their former first round pick could get back to 2021 form, where he was a low-impact, efficient quarterback who led the team to the playoffs as a rookie. Instead, he’s failed to click in new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s offense and spent a good chunk of his Week 10 getting absolutely lit into by O’Brien even before throwing a truly awful interception at the goal line in a game New England lost 10-6.
Bill O’Brien PISSED at Mac Jones pic.twitter.com/AclbRTblL7
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) November 12, 2023
Belichick’s problem is there’s no better option available. Zappe exceeded expectations as a fill-in passer as a fourth-round rookie in 2022. He’s appeared in three games this season, all in relief outings following an awful Jones effort, and completed just 10 of 25 passes for 104 yards and as many first downs gained (one) as interceptions). Undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham was rumored to get some snaps this fall but instead was released from the active roster and reverted back to the practice squad. Failed Carolina Panther QBs Will Grier and Matt Corral each spent time with the team and neither offers the upside of a legitimate starting quarterback.
So when Belichick says he’ll “look at everything,” he’s really surveying a landscape of strip malls filled with pawn shops and bail bondsmen. The Patriots are a wasteland in 2023, bad in a way we haven’t seen since Drew Bledsoe was wearing flying Elvis shoulder pads. The best way out is through, but while sinking to a 2-15 record would be an ignominious way to secure a new franchise quarterback at next year’s NFL Draft, Belichick doesn’t appear willing to give up the ship just yet.
Initial reports had Matthew Judon eyeing a December return. Could the Patriots' record impact whether they try to bring injured players like him back?
Bill Belichick: "No, I don't think so."
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) November 13, 2023
Getting Matthew Judon back would be nice. Getting Caleb Williams or Drake Maye with a top-two draft pick would be nicer, though there’s no guarantee of that happening. Even with a 2-8 record the Patriots currently hold the third overall pick behind the Chicago Bears (via the Carolina Panthers) and New York Giants.
But Patriots fans are stuck looking for a silver lining in a season stinking a stench that hasn’t been smelled in Foxborough for more than two decades. Belichick may be looking at “everything,” but it’s clear the answer he seeks isn’t on the roster.
