Patriots QB Mac Jones responds to controversial 'garbage' report

Quarterback Mac Jones responded on Monday to a report regarding his supposed thoughts on the offense of the New England Patriots five games into the 2023 season. 

"I didn’t see that," Jones said about the story in question during a Monday afternoon appearance on Boston sports radio station WEEI, per Chris Mason of MassLive. "I don’t do social media. I try to stay off and eliminate the noise. I mean, I disagree with that (report)." 

AFC East reporter Henry McKenna of Fox Sports raised eyebrows when he wrote following New England's 34-0 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday that "a source close to Jones" said that "no matter how good of [a] cook you are, you cannot make garbage taste good." 

That same source added: "Even if it was not Mac at QB, what QB would want to play here under these conditions?" 

Jones was pulled from Sunday's defeat and also benched during the club's 38-3 loss at the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 1. According to ESPN, he entered Monday night ranked 26th in the NFL among qualified players with a 40.4 adjusted QBR and 30th with an average of 6.0 yards per pass attempt this season. He thus far has thrown five touchdown passes and six interceptions. 

"I think we have a really talented group of guys that I’ve been fortunate to work with this whole offseason and through the season, some guys for three or four years," Jones insisted during Monday's segment. "And I’ve been a part of a great organization. So I definitely disagree with that. I didn’t hear that or see that, like I said, I never try to focus on the outside noise." 

For a piece published on Monday, one unnamed AFC executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated that the Patriots "have no talent," including "at the quarterback spot." 

An NFC executive explained that the Patriots "can’t protect Mac," "have no speed on offense at the skill positions" and no longer have offensive weapons who can "win one-on-one matchups." 

Meanwhile, it's thought head coach Bill Belichick could be in danger of losing his job if the 1-4 Patriots don't at least start showing signs of life during this coming Sunday's game at the Las Vegas Raiders. The 1-3 Raiders host the 2-2 Green Bay Packers on Monday night. 

"I’ve never come on here in the media and talked about my personal life," Jones said about an alleged source close to him bashing the Patriots to a reporter. "So I think the biggest thing is everyone is in this together." 

Belichick said on Sunday he plans to start Jones versus the Raiders, but backup Bailey Zappe saw the field in each of the last two games and could be viewed as a "nothing-left-to-lose" option for New England's Week 7 contest against the Buffalo Bills depending on what occurs at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 15.