The Patriots’ dysfunction during the last two seasons may have been worse than previously thought.
The level of toxicity in the team’s quarterback room as Mac Jones regressed following his standout rookie season in 2021 caused backup quarterback Bailey Zappe to watch game film in the wide receiver’s room at times in 2022, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported.
Things did not improve in 2023, with New England finishing at 4-13 and in the AFC basement.
Jones found himself benched several times during the season, and his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick became “non-existant,” according to MassLive.
Jones even went as far as to tell those in the locker room he was close with that no one on the team talked to him, the outlet reported.
Zappe took over as starter over the six games of the season, finishing with 1,272 passing yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions in 10 games, with the Patriots going 2-8 in games he played.
Even with Belichick now out of the picture, there is no indication that Jones will play for new head coach Jerod Mayo as NFL Network reported on Sunday that the team is trying to trade the signal-caller.
Jones finished the 2023 season with 2,120 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games.
Zappe’s future is still up in the air, as well.
The Patriots have the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft and will be in the mix to draft a top quarterback, though ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported the team is “open” to trading its pick.