Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has not been shy in voicing his thoughts regarding the struggles in New England this season, where his former team sits with a 2–8 record.
While there is no question the Patriots offense has been one of the worst in the NFL this season, Gronkowski refused to pin it all on quarterback Mac Jones. In fact, Gronkowski suggested that the third-year quarterback should try to remove himself from the offensive situation in New England entirely to resurrect his career.
“He’s not respected in New England,” Gronkowski told Kay Adams on the Up and Adams Show on Wednesday. “Coach Belichick has played all these games with him. Bailey Zappe isn’t even close to being on Mac Jones’s level. You should never ever sit Mac Jones … he’s not respected there.
“I think Mac Jones should just go ask for his release. And then if it’s granted, he should go sign with the Cleveland Browns and restart his career … imagine that, Kay? How incredible would that be?”
“He’s not respected in New England..”
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) November 15, 2023
Gronk makes the case for Mac Jones to ask for his release and go to CLEVELAND. pic.twitter.com/ANnyoJM37Q
While Gronkowski may be correct regarding Jones’s position in New England, the situation he played out for the New England quarterback is extremely far-fetched. For the Patriots, even if Jones isn’t the franchise quarterback they hoped he would be, they’d be far better suited trying to find a trade partner for him rather than outright releasing him with no return.
If Jones was ever released, he’d be subject to the waiver wire anyway, and would likely be claimed by a team far worse than the Browns before they even got the opportunity to make a run at him.
While the Browns have quarterback Deshaun Watson inked to a lucrative long-term contract, he will miss the rest of the season due to a broken bone in his shoulder. Cleveland’s quarterback situation is dire, with P.J. Walker struggling in five games this season and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson set to start this weekend.
Gronkowski may be onto something with Jones, but weeks after the trade deadline, Cleveland won’t be the destination this season.
