Bill Belichick spent time Friday downplaying quarterback Mac Jones’ tough outing in Week 4, saying “we all get knocked down.”
The New England Patriots head coach is confident Jones will bounce back from a disastrous game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones had three critical turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns, before Belichick benched him in favor of Bailey Zappe.
Yet Jones remains the starter, and Belichick praised him for being “mentally tough.”
“Anybody who plays or coaches in this league has not-so-good performances somewhere along the line,” Belichick said (via Boston.com). “So, part of the job, part of the situation, every week’s a new week. Mac’s pretty mentally tough. So is everybody else around here. I mean, you have to be in this league.
The New Orleans Saints visit Gillette Stadium Sunday, and the Patriots are hoping to get the Mac Jones who threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, rather than last weekend’s turnover machine.
As Belichick noted, we all get knocked down. It’s how we respond that matters.
“If it just goes from bad to worse, then you’re not going to be around very long,” Belichick said. “We all get knocked down, got to get up and go back in the ring.”
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.