New England Patriots senior football advisor Matt Patricia. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Who will call plays for the New England Patriots in 2022? Head coach Bill Belichick isn’t ready to publicly commit just yet, but the evidence is clearly pointing in a specific direction.

During a 20-10 preseason victory over the Carolina Panthers on Friday night, it was senior football advisor and offensive line coach Matt Patricia with the play sheet in his hand.

“It’s still a process,” Belichick said with a sly smile, via MassLive.

Belichick even refused to acknowledge Patricia was calling the plays on Friday night despite the obvious.

“Communication with the quarterback, yeah. As far as calling the plays, there’s a whole ‘nother process on that,” Belichick said.

Someone should inform quarterback Mac Jones because he’s not toting the same company line.

“He’s one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever been around in terms of football knowledge,” Jones said, via the Boston Herald. “Between all the coaches we have, they’ve done a great job preparing us. He’s really starting to get a feel for (play-calling). That’s the thing, he’s just growing each week and making sure that we can stack good days together. He’s very easy to talk to on the sideline, very easy, laid-back kind of type coach but he demands a lot, and I respect that about him. Hopefully we can grow for a long time.”

Joe Judge had been another option for Belichick and the Patriots, but he seems destined to exist in the background.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers ride historic shooting performance to Game 7 blowout of Knicks
Timberwolves mount incredible second-half comeback to stun Nuggets in Game 7
Xander Schauffele proves doubters wrong with historic win at 2024 PGA Championship
Four things we learned from Joey Logano's All-Star Race win at North Wilkesboro
Phil Foden lifts Manchester City to fourth consecutive English Premier League title
Watch: Aaron Judge blasts 13th home run in Yankees' seventh straight win
Canucks won't have linchpin forward for Game 7 vs. Oilers
Jags reportedly mulling extension for Trevor Lawrence, but is that the right choice?
Gordon Hayward calls role with Thunder 'frustrating'
Mets reliever Edwin Diaz showing short shelf life of closers
Three offseason moves the 49ers must make
Watch: NASCAR drivers exchange punches after crash in All-Star Race
Knicks star offers passionate defense of HC Tom Thibodeau after Game 7 loss
Knicks' Jalen Brunson suffers serious injury in Game 7 vs. Pacers
Dodgers add recently acquired left-hander to active roster
Report: 2023 No. 7 pick expected to terminate KHL contract, join Flyers
Mavericks advance to Western Conference Finals aided by controversial call late
Connor McDavid, Oilers hammer Canucks to force Game 7
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.