Say what you will about living under the rule of a controlling, imperious, authoritarian tyrant.
Sure, life in an autocratic regime can be oppressive.
But give them their due: despots can get stuff done.
And if nothing else, they keep everyone on the same page.
It’s the opposite of freedom; but life stays simple that way.
And so it was under the reign of the great dictator Bill Belichick.
Sure, no one got to say what they really believed.
There was one message, and he controlled it.
With rare exceptions, his iron rule prevented the chaos that you see in other organizations.
Like anonymous sources constantly throwing shade at one another and competing factions within the team fighting for control.
It kept the message focused and it was successful.
Now he’s gone.
And like that other despotic ruler who got dethroned Louis XV put it,Apres moi, le deluge.
“After me, the flood.”
After Belichick, the flood of people inside of Gillette running to reporters with their own agendas.
Specifically, to tear into Mac Jones:
And the flood waters keep rising.
But I suggest you check out the whole article.
Heading into the final game of the 2023 NFL season, the Patriots quarterback was on an island.
According to team sources, the communication between Belichick and Jones was nonexistent by this point.
…
Not only was Jones demoted to third string, but nobody told him.
But the Jets had been upfront with their struggling quarterback.
The Athletic reported that the Jets told Wilson they were going to trade him in the offseason.
Jones privately lamented to locker room confidants that no one talks to him.
…
Its a broken relationship, described one Patriots source.
It then goes into the history we’re all familiar with.
Matt Patricia getting named offensive coordinator.
Jones' frustration with the system.
Belichick’s frustration with Jones, etc.
When the Patriots offense unraveled this fall, staff members were critical of Jones.
Two team sources noted that the quarterback didnt do enough to call out teammates when things went wrong.
The quarterback was described as happy-go-lucky, but lacked when it came to leading the group.
He was part of the problem as far as what he was doing, who he was character-wise.
He just wanted to be one of the guys.
After Week 12, when Jones was benched, Belichick eventually stopped speaking to his quarterback.
That lack of communication came to a head in the Patriots final game.
It created an uncomfortable situation.
Jones openly rooted for Zappe trying to show coaches he was handling his demotion maturely.
However, behind closed doors, observers noted Jones had little support.
It seemed like he was being shut out.
Jones is a 25 year old with one playoff game on his resume.
you’re able to criticize for trying to be too much of apeople person’s paper people.
The offensive line wasnt adequately pass-protecting.
The receivers had issues with route running and catching.
The Patriots allowed 28 sacks during Jones rookie year.
That number rose to 41 in 2022 and tied a Belichick-era high with 48 sacks allowed this past season.
There’s a lot more in here that drills down into what we all saw in real time.
Jones mechanics breaking down like a Smartcar as his frustration level rose and he tried to do too much.
And his decision-making being even worse, leading to turnovers, sacks, and 3 & outs.
So the offense became a perpetual motion machine of suck, feeding on its own ineptitude.
I certainly get how the response to a young quarterback spiraling like that is to bench him.
You have a duty to do so, just as you would anyone at any other position.
What I don’t get is the response where you stop talking to him and shutting him out.
He’s an asset that had immense value just two years ago, before everything went sideways.
Who is practically worthless after two seasons of being treated like the kid who has cooties.
Qui bono?Who benefits?
It has to be to someone’s advantage to make them both look like inept, immature clowns.
Because for sure it’s not doing the team any good.
The Patriots are supposed to be better than this Amateur Hour bullshit.
How bad has it gotten?
