FOXBOROUGH — Mac Jones, after four years playing for Nick Saban at Alabama, knows exactly how to play the media game, especially as a quarterback.
To this point of his Patriots experience, not only has Jones shown he can quickly devour the offensive playbook, but he's also working on his masters in PatsSpeak.
Jones, to this point, has been remarkable at being unremarkable, his comments like wallpaper. He's adept at saying something while saying nothing at the same time.
That makes Jones' comments — as understated as they were — after Thursday's practice all the more curious.
After three days of having the keys to the Patriots' offense and starring in Wednesday's joint practice against the Giants — stating an authoritative case to be the opening-day starter for the Patriots — Jones returned to an understudy role on Thursday when, after five days in Covid protocol jail for his own decision, Cam Newton took the first reps throughout practice.
Did Jones like it? It didn't sound like it.
Did he come out and blast anyone or the situation? Of course not. Will some Patriots fans think this piece is an overreaction to what they view as innocuous comments and lash out against it? As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow.
But it was there, in Jones' Howdy Doody way.
On the second question he fielded from reporters, Jones was asked what he learned about himself the past few days.
"I think it’s just about leading as best I can and filling in the role that I have to play," he said. "Yesterday, I got a lot of reps and it was great and we communicated and I felt like we were in a really good flow, I kind of got into like a game flow. Today, it’s a little bit harder just to get into that."
Translation: When I get all the reps, we're pretty good — just look at what we did on Wednesday. When I'm No. 2 and have to split the reps ... not quite as good. Funny how that happens, huh?
A few questions later, Jones was asked if it was harder for him with Newton being back.
"Umm, not really. I just have to, when I go in, just execute the plays," Jones said. "Like I said, it is harder to get into like a flow, but at the same time when you are a rookie any reps you get it’s going to be awesome."
Translation: Did you guys take note of how I mentioned again how hard it is getting into a flow when you're getting crappy reps? Then I threw you off the scent. That was good, wasn't it?
Later on, Jones was asked about how good it was to be able to take the first-team reps the day prior.
“Yeah, it’s just something that I obviously want to do," Jones said. "Everyone wants to take first-team reps and stuff, but it just goes with the role, and yeah, it’s exciting, but it’s still football. I have to do my job, and fix the things I did bad. But yeah, I think we’ve made progress, but today, we definitely have to finish better and that starts with me, really."
Translation: Being the starter for three days was awesome and I think I did pretty well, don't you think? Now I'm back in that other role, and I'll do what's asked of me, but, again, we weren't as good today when I wasn't taking all the reps.
Don't let Jones' Richie Cunningham appearance fool you. He is a baby-faced and soft-bodied assassin. When you watch him on a day-in, day-out basis, he is an unreal competitor. Jones is never satisfied and always working. He's been here a month and Jones is already trash-talking the likes of Matthew Judon after throwing two touchdowns on his defense (when Newton wasn't here, by the way; doubt he does that if Newton was watching).
Do you really think he was happy, after having all the reps to himself for three days, to have to return to watching Newton? Of course he wasn't. I'm sure inside he's somewhat irritated. Actually, he's totally irritated.
My reaction to that: Good. That's exactly the type of mentality that I want from my quarterback. Tom Brady was the same way. He would get pissed off when Belichick ever gave someone else practice reps (how'd that good for you, Jimmy Garoppolo?) or removed him from games early. Did we hear Brady express his frustration? Of course not.
Jones is cut from the same cloth.
Here's my other reaction: Get used to it.
You're a rookie. The only other people Belichick treats worse are the young assistants on his staff. In his book, you throw every obstacle you can in front of a young player or assistant. It's the only way, in Belichick's mind, to see who has real staying power.
I think Belichick really likes Jones and views him as his starter — sooner rather than later after the previous three days. Belichick has seen how Jones leads a team and how the players, especially the veterans, respond to him, and has to be impressed.
Former Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan was, and he's hearing good things about Jones from his former teammates, some of which he communicates with often.
"I mean, he did good ... credit where it's due," Ryan said today about Jones' performance in the first practice. "I mean, it's NFL, he made good throws but we didn't play like ourselves. ... I think he's a good young quarterback. Pretty smart (with) what he does and I heard he's a hard worker and I know the guys like him, so it's good for them, they seem to have a good one."
They do, but that's not going to stop Belichick from putting Jones through the wringer, starting with the nonsense of reinserting Newton after he knowingly violated Covid protocols and took himself out of the lineup for three practices (almost 20 percent of the total real practices, and 50 percent of the important first day of padded practices against another team).
Jones did it again today. It wasn't perfect, and his 21-play drive was a cluster of sloppy offense at times by the entire unit (four drops!!), but it was there. Jones is at his best when the odds are longest.
On Wednesday, Jones had three third-and-medium conversions.
Today, after a bad start — a late pass to Kendrick Bourne and a bad interception to Jonnu Smith — Jones kept rallying the troops despite the huge and easy drops on his drive that constantly got them behind the chains.
3rd and 10: Checkdown to Jame White to get into a manageable fourth down.
4th and 6: Avoids heavy rush, hits White on the run to convert.
3rd and 10: White again (three plays after Gunner Olszewski dropped a perfect deep pass).
4th and 5: Conversion to Bourne.
4th and 4: Puts it on Jakobi Meyers, who makes a terrific contested catch.
3rd and 10: Touchdown to Bourne.
2-pointer: Completion to Meyers.
Part of the reason I initially hesitated on raving about Jones yesterday was because I wasn't sure how high the degree of difficulty was. Today, there was no such debate. The Giants, embarrassed the first day, threw out their real defense today with blitzes and changing coverage looks.
"They made some good adjustments on defense with their safeties and stuff," Jones said. They were just messing around a little bit more and trying to show different looks.
It took Jones time to adjust, but he figured it out — on money downs to boot.
Newton also led a touchdown drive, but he also started off just as poorly and would have had an interception of his own if the Giants defender didn't drop it.
Newton's drive was not as challenging — they stayed ahead of the chains — and he continued to hold the ball too long.
In other words, it looked the same as always.
Jones was asked one final question, whether he would be disappointed if he's not named the starter.
"That’s beyond my control," Jones said. "I can just control my effort every day and I’m trying."
Translation: Hell yeah I will be. Have you been watching the past four days? What else do I have to do?
And it's a great and valid question ... hypothetically.