FOXBOROUGH — In many respects, Mac Jones looked and sounded like a player who had been freed from a season from hell on Wednesday, the first open practice of the 2023 season.
On the field, the Patriots' offense was crisp. The ball didn't hit the ground very much, if at all — always a good barometer. Plays seemed to be executed well. There weren't a ton of jailbreaks up front. The receivers were in the right spot, and the spacing was great. Timing looked good.
It was a good, solid professional offseason practice. Normally, that's not much to write home about. But after what transpired last season, it was very newsworthy — and welcomed.
After practice, Jones seemed relaxed and in a better place, especially when it came to the offense, which is now being stewarded by a very experienced coordinator in Bill O'Brien. Not a former defensive coordinator who last touched the offense when Jones was barely out of diapers.
"It's been really good. It's been normal. I think everything he's done so far has been really good," Jones said of working with O'Brien. "I think the communication is the most important part, and trust. I think it all starts with that when you're with a new coach. He's done a great job in controlling the room. I feel like everyone's on the same page. We’ve just got to continue to do it; it's a marathon, not a sprint. So, we know that, and he's obviously had great experience in the NFL and at Alabama where I was at, so there's a lot of good stuff that we've talked about, and just looking forward to working with him."
Those quotes were dripping with double entendres.
It's been normal ... as opposed to last year, which was anything but normal.
Communication is the most important part ... last year our communication was non-existent.
Trust, I think it all starts with that ... I didn't trust anyone - for good reason - and that led to Bill Belichick, Patricia, Judge, etc. not trusting me.
I feel like everyone's on the same page ... We didn't know where the hell the page came from last year.
Jones seemed a lot lighter emotionally than he was by the end of last season, which probably felt like three seasons to the then-second-year QB. He seemed in a good mood, quick with jokes, laughed, smiled. I wouldn't say he was the happiest guy on Earth, but he seemed to be embracing "New Year, New Season, Flush the Past" mantra.
"I think every year is a new year, right?" he said. "It's a lot easier to say that after you have a really good year. Obviously, our goal is to win every game that we play in, and learn how to do that. I think some of the learning experiences I had last year will really help. There's a lot of things I could do better. I know that as a person, as a player, there's things I could grow upon. But, really it's about this year. We've got new faces in the room; it's all about earning the respect of everybody, every day. So, I'm starting fresh just like everybody else is. I'm going to run my own race, and look up at the end and see where I'm at. I think everyone else should do that, too."
That was the Public Mac that we saw in front of the cameras. But Mac The Player on the field looked like he was in a self-imposed exile, with a lot of bridge-building that needs to take place for him to be totally at ease and back to where he was entering Year 2.
Don't get me wrong, Jones looked good on the field during a session that seemed to be heavy on deceptive plays — playaction, quick passes, screens. Wouldn't go nuts about anything this early, but it was certainly productive and a step in the right direction.
But below the surface, there still seem to be a lot of hard feelings.
Joe Judge, Jones' coach a year ago who is now Belichick's aide de camp as assistant head coach, seemed basically exiled to the special teams' field and those portions of practice — far away from Jones and the offense.
Belichick was more distant than usual, kind of an observer. He didn't say much, he just scribbled a bunch of notes. Didn't see him and Jones interact at all.
When Jones ceded the field to Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley, Jones was mostly off by himself, like his own country. O'Brien was busy barking plays into a headset, Belichick was taking notes, Matt Patricia confidant Evan Rothstein (who now seems to be a QB coach) was dealing with the other QBs.
And there was Jones, in an empty space between anyone and everyone ... just off by himself for much of practice. At some point later, David Andrews came and joined him.
But for the most part, things between Jones and Belichick, especially, just felt ... distant. Like one of those families that doesn't say the important stuff out loud; they just get along to get along and sweep things under the rug — with O'Brien as the new stepdad trying not to overstep.
Jones knows what happened last year with the offense, and then Zappe. He knows Belichick hasn't voiced much confidence in him at all, and that there were trade rumors and various reports about how the team is not sold on Jones.
Belichick doesn't think Jones ever bought in last year, and helped sink the season and his friend, Patricia. Right now he's stuck with Jones, but Belchick is putting out just enough breadcrumbs to let Jones know Zappe isn't all that far behind.
"I think Mac works hard every day," Belichick said when asked about Jones before practice. "He puts in a lot of time both in the weight room, in the classroom, works hard on the field. His work ethic is really good, and hasn't changed."
That was ... akin to, 'He's got a great personality.' Geez, thanks.
You'd think things would be a lot more advanced and better for the team if both just sat down, said the quiet stuff out loud to each other, vowed last year is in the past with a clean slate, and they're ready to do right by each other.
Of course, we're talking about Belichick, who wouldn't even do that with Tom Brady when their relationship was the most strained, and it led to their divorce. No way Old Irongrunts is going to walk over to the side of the young, sometimes bratty QB who hasn't won anything and hug it out.
No, we know where this is headed. Things only become hunky dory again if Jones goes out and plays well, and the team wins. If he does that, Belichick will be as warm and fuzzy as he can muster. Don't measure up, and it's ice city, probably from the bench watching Zappe play.
But that's far down the road. Wednesday was a nice, solid day at the office for all involved, and a fresh start. Baby steps for this group, but good and needed steps.