There was a buzz across the New England Patriots on Monday when phrase broke that second-year quarterback Mac Jones had proven up with a brand new look and a slimmed-down physique.
"His abdomen is gone and he appears to be like actually good," Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne laughed following Monday’s organized staff exercise on the follow fields behind Gillette Stadium. "He’s undoubtedly a professional’s professional now."
Jones, who was the fifteenth general pick of Alabama within the 2021 draft, mentioned he made conditioning a precedence within the offseason, regardless that he had simply handed for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns (with 13 interceptions), led the Pats to 10 wins and a playoff berth and been chosen to the Professional Bowl.
"I believe yearly you wish to do like a self-evaluation: The way you felt via the video games and physique fats, all that stuff," Jones mentioned. "For me, simply clear up my weight-reduction plan, and I’ve realized extra this offseason than I in all probability ever have about diet, sleep, wellness, all that stuff."
The perfect-shape-of-his-life narrative round Jones created pleasure amongst Patriots followers, which is comprehensible given the franchise's struggles to regain its footing following Tom Brady's departure for Tampa Bay after the 2019 season.
Kevin Wildes, cohost of "First Issues First" and a famous Patriots fan, is one among them.
"He is improved his physique, his arm and his thoughts," Wildes raved.
"To begin with, his physique. He misplaced that lovely tummy of his, the little, what I name child fats, or possibly even slightly child GOAT fats. Secondly, his arm. Guess who we was working with within the offseason? Tom Home! … Tom Home has labored with Tom Brady, so after all Mac Jones' arm goes to be higher."
Home is a former MLB pitcher who has since constructed a profession as a biomechanics professional and pitching/throwing coach. Home has labored extensively with Brady through the years, and Jones revealed on Monday that he has labored with Home as properly.
"Lastly, it is his thoughts," Wildes continued. "He is obtained one other yr of expertise below his belt."
Wildes went on to argue that critics judged Jones extra harshly than the opposite quarterbacks within the 2021 draft class, together with Trevor Lawrence (No. 1 general choose of the Jaguars), Zach Wilson (No. 2, Jets), Trey Lance (No. 3, 49ers) and Justin Fields (No. 11, Bears).
"Why cannot Mac Jones get the identical narrative that we afford to each different QB?" he mentioned. "In case you take a look at preseason predictions for all the opposite second-year QBs, you hear the identical factor. Oh, Trevor Lawrence, one other yr. Ooh Zach Wilson, one other yr below his belt. Be careful for the Bears with Justin Fields, one other yr. Ooh Trey Lance, are they going to be higher as a result of he threw for 600 yards?
"What in regards to the Professional Bowler child GOAT? Oh, he'll in all probability be the identical."
Wildes may need some extent, as Jones in contrast fairly favorably to his fellow rookie QBs final season.
Amongst certified rookies — Lawrence, Wilson, Fields and Houston third-rounder Davis Mills — Jones ranked first in completion share (67.6%), passing yards (3,801), passing TDs (22), passer score (92.5) and QB wins (10).
He additionally led all certified rookies in a pair of PFF Scores: Offense (80.4) and Passing (79.0). Fields was a distant second in each classes, at 64.2 and 60.8, respectively.
Maybe most significantly, Jones' 67.6% completion share was the second-best ever by a rookie — trailing solely Dak Prescott's 67.8% in 2016 — and he was the primary Patriots rookie QB to begin a postseason sport.
So why all of the skepticism round Jones' future?
Wildes' co-host Nick Wright mentioned it is easy: "The expectations with Mac Jones when he got here into the league was that he's essentially the most polished, he's essentially the most pro-ready. So why did not he go greater? As a result of he has the bottom ceiling. … Their concern was that what he's popping out of Alabama is type of what he's going to be."
And Wright took his argument additional, making a case that Jones would not examine favorably to the opposite QBs in his convention.
"I used to be going to do an inventory of AFC quarterbacks who're higher than Mac Jones. It is too lengthy," Wright mentioned. "What are the AFC quarterbacks that anybody can say with any stage of confidence, Mac Jones is healthier than? I got here up with two and a half. Tua [Tagovailoa], Mitch Trubisky, and regardless that it pains me as a result of I do love this man's neck, Davis Mills. … And I am iffy on Mills."
Whereas the controversy may rage across the upside of Jones and the Patriots this offseason, the true take a look at will come on Sept. 11, when the Patriots head to Miami to tackle the Dolphins in Week 1.
