With a new coach in Jerod Mayo calling the shots after Bill Belichick's departure, it seems like a change at quarterback for the New England Patriots could be in the cards as well.
After being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe halfway through the Patriots' failed season, QB Mac Jones made an unexpected appearance at Mayo's introductory press conference sporting Patriots workout gear. According to a report from Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal, that rubbed his some of teammates the wrong way.
"He was in his workout gear, which is ironic since he cleared the entire locker at the end of the season," a team source told Bedard. "... I mean, come on man."
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
It seems that some of Jones' teammates also didn't take kindly to his handling of being sent to the bench, according to Bedard's source.
"Everyone's watched him play, they've watched him act like a prima donna," the team source added of Jones. "The team is sick of it, everyone's sick of it."
Bedard's report differs from a previous comment made by Zappe, who claimed that the 2021 first-round pick handled his benching well and helped Zappe prepare for games each week.
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE
Mark Daniels of MassLive also jumped in to defend Jones, clarifying that he was in workout clothes because he has been working out at Gillette Stadium during the offseason, just as he did last year. And Mayo told ESPN's Mike Reiss he was impressed by the work Jones has been putting in.
"Mac Jones was in there working out," Mayo told Reiss. "That attitude, that mentality of changing the page, is something that I hold high."
The Patriots will ultimately make their decision on a quarterback ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, where they hold the third overall pick. With Caleb Williams and Drake Maye likely to go one and two, respectively, the Patriots could take LSU product Jayden Daniels, or gamble with a QB they already have and take a generational talent in Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Jones has one year remaining on his contract, so the Patriots would have to trade or release him if they want a fresh start at the position.