15 November 2023 , 19:28
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Mac Jones' time in New England with the Patriots needs to come to an end, Rob Gronkowski believes.
In an interview with Kay Adams on the "Up & Adams" show Wednesday, the Patriots legend had some words for the struggling quarterback after it was revealed that head coach Bill Belichick won't name a starting signal caller ahead of New England's matchup on Nov. 26 against the New York Giants.
"I will say, if I was Mac Jones as well ... he's not respected in New England," Gronkowski said. "Coach Belichick has played all these games with him - Bailey Zappe isn't even close to being on Mac Jones' level - you should never, ever sit Mac Jones. You tried it once, you tried it twice, it's not working. Now he's doing it again ... He's not respected there."
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Because the 25-year-old Jones seemingly is not connecting with the coaching staff and his teammates in the locker room, Gronkowski suggested it would be best if the quarterback and team just went their separate ways.
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"I think Mac Jones should ultimately, even right now, should just go ask for his release," the 34-year-old said. "If you're talking to me about what he should do, ask for his release.
"And then if it's granted, he should sign with the Cleveland Browns and start a new career right there. They need a quarterback. Imagine that Kay, how incredible would that be? How wild would that be?"
Is it time for the Mac Jones experience in New England to come to an end? (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)With the Patriots' rival Browns missing Deshaun Watson, their franchise quarterback, for the rest of the 2023 NFL season with an injured right shoulder, there is an opening in Cleveland that Jones potentially could fill, according to Gronkowski.
"I think he would fit, there's no doubt about it." Gronkowski said. "He's got all the weapons around him and that will determine if Mac Jones is the real deal or not. I think he's a decent quarterback.
"I don't think he really has that many weapons around him either ... they're never on the same page. I just don't see it fitting anymore, just doesn't look good anymore. I don't see it healing at all either."
After a promising rookie season in 2021 in which Jones helped lead the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a Wild Card spot, the team has progressively gotten worse. The next year, the Patriots finished with an 8-9 record and this season was worse than the two previous seasons.
More than halfway through the year, New England is 2-8, the worst record in the AFC and tied with the Giants and Arizona Cardinals for the second-worst record in the NFL. Only the Carolina Panthers have a worse record at 1-8.
With the Browns in need of a quarterback and Jones needing a change of scenery, perhaps Gronkowski's suggestion is not all that far-fetched.