Mac Jones has reportedly 'infuriated' Patriots this season

The relationship between the 2-7 New England Patriots and quarterback Mac Jones seemingly has seen better days. 

"One thing that’s really infuriated people there — people in the building — is the decision-making," Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer said about Jones and the Patriots during an NBC Sports Boston appearance, per Zack Cox of NESN. "They’d been sold the smart, efficient, game-managing quarterback, and they’re not getting it. The decision-making hasn’t been good. They see him passing up open receivers. They see things, quite frankly, that you wouldn’t see from a quarterback who has those sorts of qualities. So it’s not just the physical limitations now. It’s also that it doesn’t feel like he’s really taken the coaching, and that creates a much bigger problem."

Jones reportedly angered head coach Bill Belichick last season by going outside the organization for coaching as the 25-year-old struggled while playing under assistants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. The offseason hiring of Bill O'Brien as the team's offensive coordinator hasn't yet fixed whatever is wrong with Jones, as ESPN stats show the 2021 first-round draft pick tossed a league-worst nine interceptions (tied with three others) over the season's first nine weeks. 

Jones began Wednesday ranked 24th in the NFL among qualified players with a 40.3 adjusted QBR and 27th with an 80.2 passer rating on the campaign. 

"...If this is who Mac Jones is — and we’ve seen some of the defiance bubble over in the press conferences — if he’s not running the offense as it’s prescribed, well then what do you have? Because it’s not like he can put the cape on and be (Kansas City Chiefs star) Patrick Mahomes or (Buffalo Bills starter) Josh Allen," Breer continued. "If you don’t have that one part of it, then what do you have?" 

The New England futures of Jones and Belichick beyond Week 18 are very much up in the air ahead of Thanksgiving. As things stand today, the Patriots will likely decline the fifth-year option for 2025 attached to Jones' rookie deal next spring. Such a move could result in the club shopping Jones ahead of what would be a contract season for the signal-caller.