Mac Jones raised some eyebrows after Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins when he appeared to call out his teammates.
“Definitely got to play better and learn from it and be here early and leave late, and do it together,” Jones told reporters after the game at Gillette Stadium. “I think that’s the biggest thing. If a couple guys are doing it, it’s not good enough, clearly. So we’ve gotta put more into it and we’ll get more out of it.”
The Patriots quarterback sounded a bit irritated, but insisted during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “Jones & Mego With Arcand” that he wasn’t calling anyone out. Rather he said he was talking about “being close,” because New England has been close — but came up short — in its last two games.
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“I’m talking about being close. So whatever you’re doing, just do more,” he said. “It’s not like a rocket science. If you watch 30 minutes of film, watch an hour. If you lift for 45 minutes, lift for an hour and a half. Just whatever you can do. So when we’re in the situation, for me, that’s how I feel better about everything. You can only put in so much work, but there’s 24 hours (in) a day and you have to sleep for eight to 10 of them. All the other hours need to be about work.”
Jones has essentially done all he can do in the first two weeks of the season that have resulted in the Patriots’ first 0-2 start since 2001. But the offensive line is banged up, the offense has struggled and while New England has come close, it’s not close enough.
After the 24-17 loss to Miami, Jones was seen in the locker room in full uniform with towel over his head. The third-year quarterback said he was mainly reflecting.
“Mostly just reflection. Just trying to be where your feet are (and) realize it’s a great game we get to play. But at the same time you want to win because it’s not as fun when you don’t win,” Jones said during his WEEI appearance. “So just trying to just gather my thoughts before I go to the podium or something like that. And really just how can I lead the team throughout the the week — really the next week is what I’m thinking about. What can I do better? So (it) starts with me as a quarterback and I know we have a great group of guys. It’s not about that. It’s just a couple unlucky breaks. … Gotta just keep pushing.”
The Patriots now face a tough test in Week 3 when they play their first road game of the 2023 season against the Jets. New York is 1-1 on the season and is coming off an ugly loss to the Dallas Cowboys. But, like New England, they boast a strong defense.
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It will be an important week of practice as the Patriots look to right the wrongs and avoid an 0-3 start.
