Patriots QB Mac Jones says he had 'no intention' of hurting Eli Apple
Following an $11,138 fine for diving at the legs of cornerback Eli Apple during Saturday’s 22-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones may need to do some image rehabilitation.
But despite it being Jones’ second fine this month, the second-year QB defended himself during a recent radio appearance on WEEI, stating he had no ill intent during the play.
"I went down in front of him to kind of get in the way to stop him from slowing down Tyquan [Thornton], who obviously could make the tackle there," Jones said. "So just kind of went down in front of him, trying to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy. It's a split-second decision and there's a lot that goes into it. …So there's no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play. Nor do I believe that when I'm playing quarterback, that's what [the defense is intending to do]; I get hit a lot, too. We're all out there playing hard. It's just part of the game."
Despite Jones’ defense, Saturday wasn’t an isolated incident.
He was also fined $10,609 for unsportsmanlike conduct during a 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 1 after tossing the ball into the midsection of Bills lineman A.J. Espenesa.
Jones was also the center of controversy in Week 7 when he seemingly intentionally kicked Chicago Bears rookie safety Jaquan Brisker in the groin after sliding on a run up the middle. The 24-year-old QB also come under fire last November when he grabbed and twisted the ankle of Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns after he forced a strip sack.
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