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Mike Reiss, ESPN workers author
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots met Tuesday through the bye week, however coach Invoice Belichick made no announcement to the group about his quarterback plans.
As Belichick mentioned can be the case, gamers indicated that point was spent making corrections from Sunday’s 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, leaving quarterback uncertainty hovering over the locker room.
Some gamers mentioned privately that it might be good to have readability. Perhaps that may come Wednesday, when gamers return for extra conferences and the one follow of the farewell recreation.
One faculty of thought is that Belichick could not presumably return to Mac Jones because the beginning quarterback after pulling him late within the fourth quarter on Sunday following one of many worst interceptions of Jones’ three-year profession. As a substitute of giving the skittish Jones an instantaneous likelihood to redeem himself with 1:52 to go along with the sport nonetheless on the road, Belichick believed backup Bailey Zappe gave the group a greater likelihood to win .
If Belichick felt that approach then, why wouldn’t it be any totally different now?
Huge second. Greater recreation.
📺NFLN
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 12, 2023
However one other line of thought is that Belichick — after reviewing the tape that coaches say is important to gaining a greater understanding of what unfolded — acknowledges that he could have reacted emotionally to such a nasty mistake by Jones.
The quarterback was beneath heavy stress all through the sport and at occasions he buckled beneath the stress. Nonetheless, it was thought-about excessive by some coaches and executives within the NFL to place him in such a vital state of affairs and switch to Zappe, who spent the afternoon on the frigid sideline after which was requested to guide the group to victory to guide.
Requested throughout his weekly interview on sports activities radio WEEI if he has been instructed he’s nonetheless the starter, Jones mentioned Tuesday: “We have not talked about that. We watched the sport movie and talked about plans for the bye week. The bye week is a A good time to work on issues that may be improved, so that is what I will do.”
In the meantime, Captain Deathrich Sensible Jr. spoke. Tuesday within the Patriots locker room expressed his help for the controversial quarterback, a fellow captain.
“We nonetheless consider in him,” Sensible mentioned. “There are quite a lot of troublesome issues occurring in the intervening time, however he’s doing a improbable job of coping with all of the criticism that comes his approach. We as a group help him, stand behind him and can help him till the top of the season stand by him.” completed.”
As Belichick and the teaching workers take into account whether or not to demote Jones for the group’s subsequent recreation, Nov. 26 towards the New York Giants, a key consider any resolution will likely be who they’ll flip to.
Zappe, the highest backup, has made three appearances this season and is 10 of 25 for 104 yards with no touchdowns and one interception — the final offensive play Sunday.
“Bailey has ready properly each week. I believe he is stepped in and finished his greatest,” Belichick mentioned. “Was it good? No. Have been there any positives? Sure.”
The Patriots waived Zappe on the finish of coaching camp, permitting him to be claimed by any group, reflecting how they seen him on the time. The group additionally claimed former Panthers quarterback Matt Corral and initially had him above Zappe on the depth chart earlier than Corral left the group.
In 2022, Zappe was 2-0 as a starter when he crammed in for the injured Jones, because the followers rallied behind him and the surge of vitality he dropped at the group.
Gamers say coaches typically flip to Zappe in follow, which hinders Jones’ reps.
In the meantime, No. 3 quarterback Will Grier is extra of an unknown. He was lower from the Cincinnati Bengals follow squad on September 23.
“He is bettering each week by way of understanding, working together with his teammates, main the scout group and executing the performs he has the chance to make,” Belichick mentioned of Grier. “It is simply that there aren’t many alternatives for that proper now, third place. That is the place he is been.”
