He New England Patriots confirmed the return of former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien on Thursday, but amid the reunion news came a report on the state of the offense and the relationship between quarterbacks coach Joe Judge and the second-year QB. Mac Jones.
Jones’ frustrations with offense, specifically Matt Patricia, who has acted as the primary play-caller, has taken the field several times this season, but the Boston Herald reported that there was also an issue with Judge, the former head coach of the New York Giants.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, right, walks off the practice field with quarterbacks coach Joe Judge during training camp in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Carlin Stiehl for The Boston Globe via Getty Images/File)
«Mac didn’t like it,» a source told the outlet. «Absolutely.»
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According to the report, while Patricia caught much of the heat For New England’s offensive woes, Judge was the target behind closed doors.
«Belichick would criticize him in practice, and it was not uncommon for Judge and Jones to trade profanity-laced outbursts. Jones’ confidence in his position coach was effectively non-existent,» the report read.
Patriots quarterbacks coach Joe Judge, right, works with Mac Jones during training camp on Aug. 1, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
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One source told the outlet that Judge’s personality in meetings «rubbed people the wrong way,» while another added that people were just «frustrated» with him.
O’Brien returns as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after two seasons with al but his arrival certainly fuels speculation about Judge’s future with the franchise after a lackluster season as quarterbacks coach.
New England Patriots’ Tom Brady (12), head coach Bill Belichick, far right, and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, center, talk before a game at Gillette Stadium on October 4, 2009 .
(Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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«I’m really looking forward to working with Bill again,» Belichick said Thursday of O’Brien. «He is an exceptional trainer and an asset to our staff.»