EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Insanity, the old saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
It’s not clear whether Bill Belichick’s reported decision to start Mac Jones on Sunday against the Giants reflects well on Mac Jones, poorly on Bailey Zappe or is simply Belichick doing the same thing over again and expecting — or at least hoping — for different results.
It’s definitely a reflection of just how badly New England has botched the development of the most important position in sports. Unlike so much of the NFL, including the Giants, none of this has to do with injury. The Patriots quarterbacks aren’t injured. They’re just bad.
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Belichick benched Mac Jones two weeks ago in Germany with the Patriots one drive away from a possible victory. Quarterback careers are defined by how they do in those situations. Belichick didn’t even want Jones on the field for it. And now he’s the starter again?
Jones can’t be confident. He’ll run out onto that field knowing every person in MetLife Stadium, every fan watching on TV and every player in his own huddle is aware of his failings. Any throw could be the one where he gets benched again. That’s not a recipe for success.
How bad must Zappe have been in practice that Belichick wouldn’t even give him a chance to this week? And Will Grier had to be even worse. In a league where so many teams are scouring for any serviceable quarterback talent, Belichick was willing to simply release him to add an offensive lineman, another mishandled position, to the active roster.
Starting Zappe would have been the most defendable move imaginable. Maybe he’ll click when the lights come on like he did last year. Maybe a change sparks his teammates. If nothing else, starting Zappe doesn’t make it look like benching Jones in Frankfurt was an overreaction by an exasperated coach.
Belichick tried to pretend this week that he doesn’t name starting quarterbacks because he’d then have to name the starter at every other position in press conferences. 1. Nobody has asked him about who is starting at guard or cornerback or wide receiver despite turnover and/or benchings at each of those spots. Quarterback is different. Belichick knows it, but he thinks he’s being clever dodging this way. 2. He’s previously declared Jones the definitive starter after two prior benchings this season. If he didn’t want to name the starter to force the Giants to prepare for two different guys, he could have and should have just said that. The rest of this is only embarrassing himself.
Instead, he’s got Jones saying he thinks he’s the starter. Zappe saying the quarterbacks don’t even know who the starter is and Grier saying “Pick me!” days before getting released. For a coach who preaches to tune out the noise, Belichick’s actions are creating quite a racket.
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How short will Jones’ leash be on Sunday? One interception? Two? It’ll be a speculation circus pushing the Patriots further from their once proud reputation for professionalism.
All of this is a reminder that something has to change during the offseason and maybe not just at quarterback. Otherwise, the Patriots will be doing all of this over and over again with little hope of different results.
Follow MassLive sports columnist Matt Vautour on Twitter at @MattVautour424.
