The New England Patriots surprised many recently by naming rookie Mac Jones the starting quarterback and cutting former NFL MVP and 2020 starter Cam Newton.
Mac Jones in just the past 344 days:
▫️ Named starter at Alabama
▫️ Most yards of any Bama QB ever
▫️ Won a National Championship
▫️ Drafted No. 15 to the Patriots
▫️ Won starting QB over Cam
▫️ First rookie QB to ever be named starter by Bill Belichick344 days. That fast. pic.twitter.com/fnYfdFu2kn
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) September 1, 2021
Though Tom Brady left the building following the 2019 season, his shadow looms large over the organization, its players, and particularly over the quarterback.
To be fair, it does not matter who the quarterback is, the shadow would be there for anyone.
It loomed over Newton last year, and now it is Jones’ situation to deal with.
Hopefully the first-round pick out of Alabama does not get tired of answering questions about the G.O.A.T. who once had the job.
Mac Jones on Tom Brady:
“He definitely did a good job.” pic.twitter.com/hD9kqH5tVv
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) September 8, 2021
Jones was asked recently about living up to Brady’s legacy.
“I think obviously he’s a great player. And, yeah, the word standard kind of hit me there because we all want to play to that standard — the Patriot way. And, really, it comes down to just doing your job, so as a quarterback, that’s leading the people around me as best I can. And that’s also executing the play, so hand it off or throw it. That’s pretty much what it comes down to…He did a really, really good job. Hopefully, I can do a good job, too.”
Brady’s Legacy Is Long
No one can fully inhabit Brady’s shoes.
He was with the Patriots for 20 years.
To begin with, that is nearly absurd and unheard of.
On top of that, he helped the team win six Super Bowl titles.
It is not clear if any quarterback with any team can provide that level of longevity and success.
McCourty On Jones
A Patriot teammate of Brady’s for 10 seasons, free safety/cornerback Devin McCourty, likes Jones’ mindset.
“Quarterback position, Tom’s here 20 years. There’s so much hype outside of this building. But I think he’s done a good job just focusing on what’s going on here day-to-day: What we need to do to be a good football team and trying to win games.”
Jones Has An Advantage Over Newton
Newton had his own accomplishments and career before going into New England.
Since he was a veteran, it was assumed he could step into a Bill Belichick system and roll with it.
The Patriots’ failures last year were not all about Newton.
The team had a lot of players opt out for COVID-19 which created issues with continuity along with the change at quarterback.
Jones arrives on the scene a year removed from all of that with a unique style and perspective.
Mac Jones is feelin' it. A mini dance-off with James White during stretching followed up with him making Josh McDaniels laugh during QB drills 🤣 pic.twitter.com/C3ncUWjwE9
— The Camera Guys (@NBCSCameraGuys) September 8, 2021
The Patriots have their players back and did a lot of wheeling and dealing in the offseason with free agents so this is no longer Brady’s team with Jones as the quarterback.
It is a new team with its own identity so hopefully Jones can run with that without growing weary of the questions he will be asked about Brady along the way.
NEXT: Cam Newton Was Clearly Out Of Patriots 2021 Plans Early On
