Patriots' Mike Gesicki humorously alludes to Mac Jones rumors

New England Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki suggested players in the locker room know all about what reporters have said and written about quarterback Mac Jones this spring.

"Really cool dude," Gesicki said about Jones on Thursday, per Dakota Randall of NESN. "Cool personality. Love the energy and the juice that he brings in practices and throwing sessions and stuff. Obviously, great arm, accurate, all that kinda stuff." 

Gesicki then laughed before he acknowledged the figurative elephant in the room. 

"Make sure I check all the boxes 'cause I know everybody’s gonna want to talk about it," Gesicki said. 

Gesicki left the Miami Dolphins to sign a one-year contract with the Patriots that reportedly includes $3.55M in guaranteed money and can be worth up to $9M. Little did the 27-year-old know at the time a report would emerge just a few weeks later claiming that head coach Bill Belichick "shopped" Jones to other teams this offseason. 

It's since been said that Patriots players were "not happy" the Jones rumors surfaced and that the 24-year-old "has a ton of support in the locker room." Patriots linebacker Josh Uche and new wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster are among New England players who have publicly backed Jones, and the Patriots did not acquire a replacement for the 2021 first-round draft pick this offseason.

"It was cool," Gesicki added about working out with Jones on the practice field. "I came up here and he had reached out to me, ended up staying over at his house. Just getting to know him and kind of building that relationship, that chemistry. It was cool, it was a good opportunity." 

What exactly happened behind the scenes involving Jones and Belichick over the past few months may stay a mystery for years to come. Until further notice, it seems Jones is the favorite to remain atop the depth chart over 2022 rookie Bailey Zappe.