Bill Belichick indicates that the starting quarterback job is available for the 2023 NFL season, and sophomore quarterback Bailey Zappe he is ready to compete if the opportunity presents itself.
Zappe is coming off a rookie season in which he started two games and became a fan favorite in New England.
Mac Jones, left, and Bailey Zappe of the New England Patriots walk onto the field for the Cardinals game at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
And it seems that you will have the opportunity to overthrow mac jones under the center.
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«If my opportunity presents itself, as I’ve been saying, I’m going to make the most of it,» Zappe told reporters on Wednesday. «I’ll do everything I can to help the team win. That’s really all I can say from that point of view. That’s Coach Belichick’s decision, whatever he decides. But if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll be ready. and take advantage of it.»
At NFL owners meetings in March, Belichick was asked about the quarterback situation heading into next season, and the legendary head coach of the patriots he refused to say that the work was Jones’s.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick prepares for the Cardinals game on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Norma Hall/Getty Images)
«Everybody’s going to get a chance to play,» Belichick said when asked if there would be a quarterback contest this summer. «We will play against the best player.»
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In typical Belichick fashion, he told reporters the mindset didn’t just apply to the quarterback position, saying it was the same for «every position.»
New England’s offense struggled in 2022, finishing the season 26th in yards per game while averaging just 208 passing yards per game.
Jones, who battled injuries all year, regressed on his second seasonfinishing the year with a lower completion percentage and passer rating than he did in his rookie season.
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Bailey Zappe of the New England Patriots during the performance of the national anthem before the Raiders game at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Bill O’Brien was hired in January to be New England’s offensive coordinator and returned to New England after spending the past two years as offensive coordinator at the university of alabama.
«I’m really excited to learn all of the knowledge that he has of the quarterback position, not the position itself, but also from a defensive standpoint, how he views defense,» Zappe said Wednesday. «I’m very excited for this year with some of the new guys we have on the team as well. And I’m ready to follow that.»