Bill Belichick apparently wants to get rid of quarterback Mac Jones. The reason: He got help from outside the New England Patriots. Truly unfair after the circumstances of last season. One comment.

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

There is probably no advertising slogan more etched in the minds of people worldwide. So if you come to “Sin City”, you can do things you wouldn’t do at home – and no one has to know about it.

If you transfer the slogan to the best football league in the world, there can probably be no other franchise than the New England Patriots to which the saying would fit better.

“What happens in Foxborough, stays in Foxborough. “

Belichick may want to get rid of his quarterback

And that’s to be taken literally. No other NFL team is as closed off as the Patriots under head coach Bill Belichick. Everything is supposed to stay internal, secrecy is a high value.

And that high good has been trampled by the team’s quarterback, of all people. Last season, in playmaker Mac Jones’ second year, he reportedly sought outside help. The playmaker apparently wanted advice on how to run an offence. An outrage for the head coach.

On Tuesday, the news was all over the place. NBC Sports reported that Belichick could not understand why his pass rusher had turned to people outside the organisation for help. And it gets worse. The coach, who is said to be “really pissed,” apparently even wants Jones lowered altogether. Pro Football Talk” writes that Belichick is said to have offered his playmaker to several teams in trade talks during the offseason. Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Commanders were mentioned as possible targets.

Great pressure to succeed at New England Patriots

It’s all too understandable that nerves are strained for some in the organisation. The Patriots, who were used to success, experienced a season to forget in 2022.

They lost game after game and missed the playoffs by a wide margin. After the first year with Brady successor Mac Jones, in which the Patriots reached the postseason at the first attempt, a clear setback.

But to treat the 24-year-old like this now, apparently only because he sought outside help, is not only premature, but above all unfair. Because at the end of the day, the Patriots have let their playmaker down. Athletically and humanly.

One thing is clear: the starting quarterback of an NFL team does not seek outside help for no reason. He does so when he can’t get it within the team.

Mac Jones couldn’t get along with coaches

When you look at last year’s coaching staff, no wonder. When Matt Patricia, a playcaller for the offense, is appointed, who is actually defensive coordinator, these are conceivably bad conditions – especially with such a big pressure to succeed.

In addition, quarterbacks coach Joe Judge, who returned from the Giants, and his playmaker could not warm to each other. There were repeated reports of both insulting each other in practice.

Who wouldn’t think of looking for help elsewhere? Actually, there is nothing wrong with that. But with the Patriots, sometimes the clocks tick a little differently.

Aparticularly since the leadership has provided him with anything but powerful weapons for the offense. Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne were the best receivers last year. Together, the trio combined for ten touchdowns. By comparison, Davante Adams alone scored 14 for the Raiders, which is also far from good for a lot of wins.

Owner Kraft backs Jones

It’s unclear how much support Mac Jones currently has with the Patriots. Publicly, no one has backed him since the reports. At least owner Robert Kraft outed himself as a big fan just a few days ago – and was insightful.

“Last season we tried different experiments that obviously didn’t work for him. This offseason, we’re making changes again to put him in a better position to perform,” Kraft said.

For Jones, the hope is that the owner’s support will be enough. Leaving just because he got outside help would be anything but fair.