Rex Ryan thinks Patriots are ‘absolutely crazy’ for thinking Mac Jones is their guy

Mac Jones earned praise from Rex Ryan after the Patriots’ Week 1 loss. But his tone completely changed on Monday after New England suffered its worst loss under coach Bill Belichick.

Jones didn’t look good under center in the 38-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and ended up getting pulled for Bailey Zappe in the second half. And after his performance — which saw the QB complete just 12 of his 21 passes for 150 yards and two interceptions — Ryan saw his opportunity to shred Jones and didn’t hold back.

“Are you referring to peashooter Jones?” Ryan said during “Get Up” on Monday. “Here’s the thing: The guy doesn’t have a whole lot of arm talent. I’ve said it from (the) jump. Maybe the weakest arm for all starting quarterbacks in the league.

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“It’s the truth. Give me a guy that has a worst arm than this cat. It doesn’t happen. He doesn’t have the power to throw it outside the numbers or vertically,” he continued. “Why do they throw all those screens? I love his completion percentage. Yeah, he’s throwing screens and hitches and things like that. When he has to make plays, he can’t make them. And that’s a simple fact.

“I don’t hate. I’ve had to defend against everybody. I would love to defend against this guy. Are you kidding me? Like, this guy can’t throw,” Ryan added. “He’s their best option. They cut Bailey Zappe. They put Bailey Zappe on the practice squad. He doesn’t have another choice here.”

Questions surrounding Jones and his future as the starting quarterback surfaced after he was lifted for Zappe. But Belichick said the third-year QB will be the starter going forward, and Ryan isn’t convinced Jones is the guy who’s going to get the Patriots where they ultimately want to be.

“To think this guy is gonna take you to where you wanna go, you’re absolutely crazy,” Ryan said. “… Where’s the power?”

For now, the Patriots are going to stick with Jones going into Week 5 despite what Ryan thinks. New England will try to rebound against the 2-2 New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.