Mac Jones Has Become Legendary in SF for His Nearly Superhuman Toughness

The more time passes, the more it becomes painfully obvious that Mac Jones was done dirty in New England. 

After a promising rookie year that ended with a trip to the playoffs, over the next two seasons he lost Josh McDaniels, Bill Belichick's faith, his own confidence, his reputation, the support of Patriots fans, and eventually his job. 

Let us not forget this:

... em’. I hope he has a great career — as a backup. Makes a ton of money.  

[…] 

It didn’t work out. It didn’t work out. They needed a change. The demeanor! The demeanor alone between Mac Jones and Drake Maye are completely different… I’d rather listen to Drake Maye talk… I’m a nice guy too… I’m in a bike club. I just needed some more nuts.” 

Or this recent report:

Source -  According to multiple sources, Belichick became upset when Kraft told him he couldn’t retain Matt Patricia as offensive coordinator following a disastrous 2022 season. Instead, the Patriots hired veteran offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. If Belichick had his way, Patricia would’ve been retained.

That season, Belichick grew so frustrated with quarterback Mac Jones that he actually stopped talking to the 2021 first-round pick altogether. At the time, a source told MassLive that Jones told people around him that the Patriots stopped coaching him and Belichick refused to talk to him. 

And raise your hand if you were one of the people chanting Bailey Zappe's name. Or in any way putting your trust in him after this moment.

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

Let the record reflect that my hands remain right down by my sides. Because at no time did I ever buy the hype on Zappe. Who, in case you've misplaced him, can be found on the gawdawful QB depth chart of the Cleveland Browns, buried below Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. The Browns have the worst passing offense in the league by a wide margin, with a passer rating of 68.8. And the one-time vessel for all your hopes can't make the 53. But a frighteningly high percentage of Pats fans wanted him over Jones. Because Jones got a severe high ankle sprain, these images were widely shared, and everyone assumed he was a delicate little squish with no tolerance for pain. 

Because just seven games into his 49ers career, no one in San Francisco can shut up about how tough he is:

To the point he's having to respond to the "many people are saying" questions:

I mean, this is the way they used to talk about a Brett Favre, a Steve McNair, a Kenny Stabler. Real men with ferocious iron wills. Carved out of solid blocks of pure testosterone. 

They're talking about Mac Jones like he's a Marvel superhero. A skeleton made of adamantium like Wolverine's. A hard outer shell made of vibranium like Cap's shield. Forged together in the heat of a dying star like Mjolnir. All placed in the adult body of this adorable little imp:

They can't all be wrong. jones has developed into the quarterback I'd hoped he'd be when I wanted him in the 2021 draft. And more so. I had no idea he was made of this kind of stuff. Tougher than a Waffle House steak. Earning the respect of everyone. He's the anti-Jimmy Garoppolo, who missed 31 of a possible 67 starts in San Francisco before they shipped him to Las Vegas and he eventually landed on the Rams bench. 

All you can do is be glad for the man, who deserved better than he got in Foxboro. From his coaches and the fans. Just not from me. 

Make no mistake. I'm glad to have the quarterback we have now. A far superior athlete, arm talent, and physical specimen. Who is tough as nails in his own right. But sometimes you can break up with someone and still be happy things worked out for them. Mac Jones is that guy. I hope that wherever he ends up next season, whether he's starting for San Fran or somebody else, he gets a start at Gillette and gets the cheers he deserved before everything went sideways for him.