WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Just before he was set to depart his final media scrum of the week (yes, on a Wednesday before the first practice on the week, not Friday), Bill Belichick revealed the captains for the 2022 Patriots:
Matthew Slater (special teams)
Ja'Whaun Bentley, Deatrich Wise and Devin McCourty (defense)
David Andrews and Mac Jones (offense)
None of the names were a surprise, even the last one. He might be the least experienced — by far — but when it comes to the 2022 Patriots, there might not be a more important name on that list than Michael McCorkle "Mac" Jones.
(Bedard/BSJ)
The "field goal posts" at the site of the Patriots' practices this week.
There's two big reasons for that, one that has become increasingly evident during this summer, and one that is hopeful.
First, though, Jones was predictably humbled by the honor, and showed his maturity.
"I think it’s really cool," Jones said today at the Palm Beach Atlantic University athletic complex. "I think I have a lot of work to do. I want to become an even better leader. I think we have great guys around us that make everything better. Great coaches, great organization and we’ve just got to build. I’m going to learn from the older guys like I did when I first got here and continue to do that. Hopefully some of the younger guys can come to me, whether that be issues and things they want to get fixed, or things that they’re struggling with. I’ll be happy to help anybody on our team.
"I mean titles are titles. I think really good leaders lead no matter what. If they’re the number one guy or not, it doesn’t matter, they’re good leaders. I think it’s great. But you have to be yourself and that’s what’s important to me, is just being myself. I’m plenty good enough and I just need to continue to grow and try to figure out how I can get better as a player, as a leader, and a person and all that stuff. So it comes with time and experience and learning lessons."
Belichick is going to need Jones to be one heckuva leader this season.
There is no player on the roster that has been and will be more affected by Belichick's decisions this offseason.
With Josh McDaniels by his side, Jones not only grabbed the starting role from Cam Newton as a rookie, but helped lead the team back to the playoffs with a 10-7 record and went to the Pro Bowl. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty good. It was a great baseline for Jones and for the offense, considering he was working with two receivers (Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne) and tight ends (Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith) who were completely new, like himself, to the Patriots' system. By the end of the season, Jones was telling people around the team that his rookie season, from leaving Alabama through his rookie season, was a complete whirlwind. In hindsight, he had no idea what was needed or expected to navigate that slate. Jones thought he knew, but in the end he didn't have a clue.
But, more importantly, he would be much better prepared for his second season with an offseason of study and work, and now knowing exactly what to expect the second time around.
Or so he thought.
And then Belichick hit him with the football version of a 2x4. McDaniels left for the Raiders and was allowed to take his QBs, receivers and offensive line coach. Ok, fine, these things happen all the time and teams, especially the Patriots, keep moving on. And then Belichick decided it was best to have Matt Patricia replace McDaniels and Carm Bricillo, and for Joe Judge to coach Jones and start learning the ropes to be an OC/playcaller down the line.
Oh, and they were going to make significant changes to how they did things and said things with the offense Jones and others were just starting to get a handle on.
We all know it has not, through the end of the preseason, gone well. And Jones, through his words to the media and actions on the sidelines, wasn't exactly the biggest proponent of what was going on. But in the last two weeks, he has altered his tune and become much more positive.
"I think anything you do, you try to be positive and optimistic and just figure out the solution to the issue. That’s what every good problem solver does," he said,. "There’s an issue or something that doesn’t make sense, they find a way to fix it. That’s kind of what we’re doing. I feel really good with where we’re at. Just have to do it today really is where it starts. So have a good day today."
Even Jones admitted that his patience has been tested, even when things have not looked as he would have hoped entering his second season when he's supposed to take his biggest step forward.
"I think the uncertainty just has to clear itself up," Jones said. "I think that’s just a mentality. I think it’s all about getting in the right spot, having confidence in one another and we’ve done that. Sometimes it’s not going to be a perfect clean picture right off the bat when something’s new a little bit. But I feel like we’ve made really good strides in practice and the games even. When you really watch the tape to see how close we are. We’re just excited to get out there and put it on tape and see what we can do and adjust and just play for one another. That’s all it comes down to. The x’s and o’s are the x’s and o’s. But if we play for one another then good things can happen."
That's exactly what the Patriots are going to need more of from Jones going forward. Even if he wasn't named a captain, he's the guy, as QB1, that everyone looks to. If he's frustrated, then that trickles down to the rest of the team. If his message is stick with it — which could be the case in the early going — then those other players will have faith in him. And it can't just be at the podium, Jones has to send the same message in the locker room. And Belichick must have good reason to believe he will.
Here's the second important factor with Jones being officially named a captain: hopefully this gives him even more sway with Belichick — and Jones the confidence to speak up. I'm sure he had a lot already, but this could be significant. When it comes to offensive and positional meetings (especially the QB room), Belichick will not be able to be everywhere during the season. If Jones — with likely a big assist from Brian Hoyer, who knows how things should be run — feels like things aren't working or need to be junked, or different voices are needed in his speaker during the game, then hopefully Jones is now more empowered to speak his mind to Belichick to right the ship.
"He’s very good about understanding how to see it through my eyes, but also how he sees it," Jones said of Belichick. "He’s a really smart guy. We’re both smart. We both can come together and come to a conclusion that this is why we want to do this play. He explains it and then I have to go execute it. So I’ve been really comfortable with that."
Jones may only be in his second season, but there might not be a more important leader in the locker room and with Belichick than Mac Jones. His teammates will need his leadership, and they might need him to save the season if the offense does not click as Belichick envisioned in the offseason.
Wynn, Montgomery return to practice: Both Isaiah Wynn and Ty Montgomery were dressed in full pads and taking part in the portion of practice open to the media.
Injury report:
Patriots - Limited
WR Jakobi Meyers, Knee
WR Ty Montgomery, Knee
OT Isaiah Wynn, Back
Dolphins - Limited
RB Salvon Ahmed, Heel
TE Tanner Conner, Knee
RB Chase Edmonds, Groin
RB Myles Gaskin, Neck
FB Alec Ingold, Hamstring
CB Nik Needham, Quad
S Eric Rowe, Pectoral
WR Jaylen Waddle, Quad
T Terron Armstead, Not Injury Related - Vet Rest
LB Melvin Ingram, Not Injury Related - Vet Rest
LB Andrew Van Ginkel, Not Injury Related - Illness