The NFL will reportedly not fine New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones for the alleged hit below the belt to New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner in Week 3.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, any discipline by the league would have required sufficient video evidence, but there was none in the case of the Jones and Gardner incident.
Buy Patriots TicketsJones never reared back and built up any momentum on the point of impact, and it’s hard to see exactly where the hit happens. It’s all a matter of guesswork, and that isn’t nearly enough to warrant disciplinary action with a suspension or fine.
The NFL didn’t fine #Patriots QB Mac Jones for his actions in last week’s game against the #Jets, per sources.
Any discipline would’ve required sufficient video evidence to support Sauce Gardner’s accusation. In this case, there wasn’t enough. pic.twitter.com/xbHPydHdZA
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 30, 2023
Jones is off the hook for this incident, but former legendary Patriots safety Devin McCourty suggested the third-year quarterback do a better job of avoiding such incidents in the future.
A suspension would have been devastating for a Patriots team heading into a tough matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. The good news for everyone, however, is that we can all finally put cup check-gate in the rearview.