Mac Jones Calls Tom Brady His 'Mentor.' The Universe is Unfolding as it Should.
"And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul." - Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
I offer up these words of peace and tranquility at this difficult time as a reminder that everything is happening according to the grand designs of an intelligent creator. Whether He be the inventor of the universe itself, or the builder of the mightiest empire this narrow world has known:
Bill Belichick drafts Tom Brady, installs him as his QB1, and the greatest winner the sport has ever known is born. A full 21 years later, he drafts Mac Jones. Brady retires. Devin McCourty brings the two together. And together they forge a bond that can only lead to Jones' own brilliant, shining, successful future:
MassLive - Mac Jones clearly considers Tom Brady a mentor.
During his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “Jones and Mego” show, the Patriots quarterback was asked about Brady. …
“He’s definitely a legend. I have all the respect for him, he’s a great guy” said Jones. “He’s actually helped me a lot already, just talking to him or whatever. He’s been a great mentor and stuff. He’s a great player.
“Love watching his film,” he went on. “He pops up on game tape, obviously, from last year and everything, too. He’s always on the film doing the right thing so just trying to learn from him. He’s been awesome.”
A mentor? Jones was asked to explain further. He said he’s been made to feel comfortable reaching out to Brady should the need arise. …
“Just being able to learn from that. He’s always on the film like I said, so just watching the football, the timing, his operatio of everything. So he’s definitely the greatest to do it, and that’s why you want to watch him and learn."
Alexander the Great had Aristotle. Aristotle had Plato. Plato had Socrates. As did Bill & Ted. Neo had Morpheus. Rocky had Mick and Apollo. Daniel-san had Miyagi. Bilbo and then Frodo had Gandalf. Luke had Obi Wan and then Yoda. The Undertaker had Paul Bearer. Liz Lemon had Jack Donaghy. And as he pointed out, one cannot underestimate the importance of a great mentor/mentee relationship.
Wise, thoughtful, scholarly, kindly, experienced fellow travelers who impart their vast knowledge on a young protege because they see in them the potential to do great things. A younger version of themselves, perhaps. They just need someone to unlock that greatness with the key that is their own wisdom.
And honestly, what two men on the planet are better suited to this dynamic? Consider the wealth of common experience Brady and Jones share. Both were successful at huge programs, competed at a high level, and yet were the sixth and fifth player respectively drafted at their position because they were deemed "not athletic enough." Because they didn't look good with their shirts off. They lacked "arm talent." They weren't mobile enough to survive in the modern game. Meanwhile, one by one the more "athletic" QBs chosen ahead of Brady faded into oblivion. And in Jones' case, one of them is already the QB3 on the team that used three 1st rounders to obtain him.
From a more practical standpoint, these are the only two human beings on the planet who can say they've been the starting quarterback in this system during Bill O'Brien's first stint in New England and his second. That is a bond no one else shares. So when O'Brien uses old Patriots game film like he does in all of the dozens of his coaching clinics I spent my summer watching, Jones not only gets the lesson from his coordinator, he gets to talk directly to the guy who looked over the defense, pointed out the Mike, called the protection, made the read, looked off the safety, decided which side of the formation his playcall favored, went through his progressions, felt the pressure, and delivered the pass. He gets to tap directly into that bottomless well of knowledge and experience. One no other QB in the league has available to him. If you'll forgive me the unfortunate turn of a phrase, Jones is being given the cheat codes.
To make one more historical comparison, this would be like Napoleon battling the British and getting to text Washington to ask how he managed to kill them in their sleep at Trenton or encircle them at Yorktown. Except this week, Jones doesn't even have to text. He's got the greatest mentor anyone could ever have right in the building with him. So thanks to McCourty for introducing these two. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.