Former NFL MVP compares Patriots' Mac Jones to Jets bust

Even before New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick benched quarterback Mac Jones during Sunday's 10-7 loss at the New York Giants, multiple outlets reported that some or most New England players had lost faith in the 2021 first-round draft pick. 

CBS Sports analyst and one-time NFL Most Valuable Player Boomer Esiason suggested during a Monday appearance on the WEEI "The Greg Hill Show" that Jones no longer believes in himself. 

"It's actually sad to watch," Esiason said about Jones, per Scott McLaughlin of Audacy. "The body language tells me everything. The performance tells me everything. It's like they're just waiting for him to make a mistake. He's waiting for himself to make a mistake." 

Patriots icon and Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman made similar comments about Jones earlier this month before Belichick pulled the 25-year-old from a game for the fourth time this season. According to ESPN stats, Jones ended the weekend ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 36.6 adjusted QBR and 29th with a 77.0 passer rating on the season. He's tossed 10 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions for the 2-9 Patriots. 

"It’s kind of like watching [New York Jets signal-caller] Zach Wilson," Esiason added about Jones. "I don't think it's quite as bad, but when you’re turning the ball over the way that Mac has turned it over this year, to get benched four times tells you all you need to know. I'm sure that those coaches are looking at that film and they can't explain some of the decisions that he's making."

Just last week, Esiason called Wilson "a complete and utter bust." Per ESPN, Wilson entered Monday ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 30.9 adjusted QBR and 32nd with a 73.8 passer rating for the campaign. 

Wilson lost his starting job before Thanksgiving Day, and Esiason hinted Jones should suffer the same fate before New England's home game against the 4-7 Los Angeles Chargers this coming Sunday. 

"It's 100% on Mac Jones," Esiason continued. "I mean, I can't sit here and tell you that [offensive coordinator] Bill O'Brien and Bill Belichick forgot how to coach football players and coach offense."