Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Should the New England Patriots Trade Mac Jones? The O’Brien Effect, The “Massive Gap” and More

Episode Date: February 22, 2023

The New England Patriots are in the midst of building their foundation for 2023. However, lingering questions continue to surround the future of quarterback Mac Jones as the starter. Joining host Mike D’Abate is Clare ‘ClazzyClare’ Cooper of Pats Propaganda and FPC Patriots. The duo discuss the latest rumors, as well as the perceived gap between Jones and Bailey Zappe, the Bill O’Brien effect and More.Find and follow Locked On Patriots on your favorite podcast platforms:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/locked-on-patriots-daily-podcast-on-the-new-england/id1140512627Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1c5ZxFmwg3WbfxAU3tR5Ve?si=k196wH-yRqifUcQQz8SjIQStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-on-patriotsAnd follow host Mike D’Abate on Twitter, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the New England Patriots and talking with fans.On Twitter: @mdabateNFLSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Ultimate Football GMTo download the game just visit Ultimate-GM.com or look it up on the app stores. Our listeners get a 100% free boost to their franchise when using the promo LOCKEDON (ALL CAPS) in the game store.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Place your first FIVE DOLLAR bet to get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Free Bets – win or lose! Visit Fanduel.com/LockedOn today to get startedFANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG(CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat(CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should the New England Patriots trade Mac Jones? Will they trade Mac Jones? The answer to both is no. And we're going to tell you why. So stick around. You're about to be locked in to the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. Thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage and also your first listen every day. Remember, Locked On Patriots is free and available on all platforms, including YouTube. So smash that subscribe button, download, subscribe to follow Locked On Patriots wherever you get your podcasts. Patriots fans, today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, official sportsbook of the NFL.

Make every moment more. Visit FanDuel.com slash Locked On today to get started. That's fans. Thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a part of your daily Patriots coverage. I'm your host, Mike debate. I cover your new England Patriots for Patriots country of sports illustrated. So reach out to me. Let me know what's on your mind on Twitter at M D a B a T E NFL. While you're out there showing some love to that Twitter verse, please be sure to follow the locked on Patriots account as well at lo underscore patriots pats fans it is a subject we broach at least once a week here on locked on patriots because it

continues to be in the news and on the top of mind of most patriots fans as the patriots start to build their season we're just a few days out from the start of the 2023 NFL Combine. Draft talk is a buzz here on Locked On Patriots. Mock Draft Monday and such. Patriots also not too far away from free agency. We continue to talk about ways in which they'll build through free agency, replacing veterans,

getting younger players in, or bringing savvy veterans that know the system into New England. Also talk about guys like Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater, their futures. We know Slate's coming back. We think Devin McCourty is close to making a decision and should by the time free agency starts, but it just won't go away. The New England Patriots continue to be clouded in mystery regarding their starting quarterback position. Will the patriots even think

about trading mac jones the number 15 pick in the 2021 nfl draft the first time they spent draft capital in the first round on a quarterback since they did so in 1993 when they brought drew bledsoe into the house well it continues to be stirred up up by NFL insiders reporting what they're hearing, and then, of course, aggregators doing the best they can to stir the pot. And that happened actually recently. You continue to hear rumors and innuendo build over the weekend. And in an appearance last week on 98.5 Zolak and Bertrand the New England Patriots became the subject of quarterback controversy once again Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported exactly what he heard or what he is essentially saying is coming from sources and that he believes that the Patriots might be willing to

move Mac Jones for a lot of reasons one of which that internally, the Patriots don't see a big-time gap between Mac Jones and his backup Bailey Zappi. Last week here on the pod, and if you haven't had a chance, definitely check out last week's episode on love for Bailey and for Mac at the same time. A little Valentine's Day episode that I wanted to drop for all you Patriots fans out there, but you get the point. It really was about there being room on the roster for both of these players. Well, that doesn't really quite portray a really good writing narrative or a really good reporting narrative,

so it's a little bit better to have these two at odds with one another, and that's exactly what this report essentially says. Breer came out and said something very factual where he believes that the Patriots would entertain the idea of trading Bailey Zappi. I'm quoting Breer's words directly here as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston from his appearance on 98.5. Quote, I think they would. Internally, I don't know if they see this massive gap between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappi. I'm not saying they think Bailey's as good as Mac, but there was some element of Bailey doing what he was coached to do last year

that I think gave Bailey the edge to some degree for a little while there. Breer's comments are definitely not something that I take umbrage with. First of all, they're worthy to be reported. I have no problem with that. He's giving his opinion on the situation and hearing what he believes to be an interpretation of what his league source, or should I say team source, big difference there, folks, what his team source might be saying about the Mac and Bailey situation. That's all well and good, but when aggregators start using this to start to stir

the pot, then you have difficulty. Then you have a narrative that's out there for all of the fans to either indulge or to ignore. And I always go back to a quote that I absolutely love from one of my favorite childhood movies, and that is Jurassic Park. And Dr. Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum, point blank looks at John Hammond and says, your scientists are so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. And I think that sums it up very well here on Lockdown Patriots and the argument that we're going to try to make today that the Patriots should not entertain the idea of

trading Mac Jones. And we're going to talk a lot about why they should not do that and who's here to help us. But the wisdom, the counsel, the clairvoyance of one of our favorites here on Locked On, Claire Classey, Claire Cooper of Pat's Propaganda and FPC Patriots drops by the pod. And she's going to help me decipher what exactly is contained within these reports, whether or not the Patriots should trade Mac Jones. And if not

and I think I don't want to put words in Claire's mouth but I think she's probably going to lean on that side of the fence as well but regardless of where it lies whether they should or whether they shouldn't what are the reasons behind it because ultimately the how and the who are fodder for the talk shows how will the Patriots trade Mac Jones? Who will they get in return? What type of return on investment can he fetch? But really, the most important question is why. Why should they trade him or why shouldn't they trade him? And today on Locked On Patriots, we're going to go in-depth to tell you why we believe

that the gap may not be massive, but it's substantial. And on that basis, Mac Jones should be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots in 2023. Folks, a lot to talk about today. It's always a blast when I welcome Claire to the pod here, and I will do so in just a moment when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, folks, the midway point of the NBA season is here, and now is the perfect time to download

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That's FanDuel.com slash locked on to learn more. Make every moment more with FanDuel, an official sportsbook betting partner of the NBA. Patriots fans, team building and draft are really the hot topics of conversation for the New England Patriots free agency who are they going to pick in the 2023 upcoming NFL draft a lot of you are questioning that and rightfully so but there's an undercurrent still on this team about whether or not the Patriots are set at the quarterback position. Is the difference between New England Patriots quarterbacks, Mack Jones and Bailey Zappi, so negligible that it justifies a changing of the guard? Well, in order to really answer this question as thoroughly as we possibly can here on Locked On Patriots,

I called in the guns of clairvoyance. That's right, folks. It is Wednesday. It's the midweek. She is the midweek monarch here on Locked On Patriots, and we need her wisdom and counsel on this subject desperately. She is a columnist extraordinaire for Pat's Propaganda, as well as the host of her very own Patriots podcast, which this week is celebrating its two-year anniversary.

Tip of the cap, nod to the gods to one of the best Patriots podcasts out there. Claire Classey, Claire Cooper joins me here today. Welcome back, Countess. Happy anniversary. Thank you. Oh, thank you so much. I very much appreciate that. So, yeah, quick drop. Hopefully the anniversary episode will be out on the anniversary tomorrow, the 23rd of February, so people, please look out for Claire Perspective, the anniversary edition. Definitely, and I will be listening, and I know a lot of our listeners not only tune in to Lockdown

Patriots to hear my takes, I'd like to think some do, but a lot do tune in because of the content. We bring them here on a Wednesday, and who could blame them? It is the clairvoyance, it is the clazz, the pizzazz, everything that you could possibly want all in one.

Claire brings it. And Claire, I'm going to ask you to bring it today because the hot take hotel continues to buzz with recycled third, fourth hand trade rumors. Aggregators are having a ball with this. Matt Jones, in my opinion, is become a polarizing figure in Patriots lore. You have fans that are dedicated to watching what he can do on the field, and then you have fans that are just simply ready to ship him out. I wish it was as easy as they make it sound to just slide another quarterback into this position, and you're going to recapture the glory days under Tom Brady.

Folks, it does not work like that. Most of the quarterbacks that you see in this league have had to toil a little bit to get to where they need to be. I know right now the flavor of the month is Patrick Mahomes. Patrick is an excellent quarterback, and when it's all said and done, he may end up being the best quarterback of all time, but he's benefited greatly from great players around him and a phenomenal coaching staff, just like Tom Brady did when he first came in so you look at what Mac Jones is doing you look at what Bailey Zappi did last year you can understand why there's

trade rumors you can understand why there's a little unrest but at the end of the day I think you have to come to a decision about whether or not Mac is the guy for this team or he's not I ask you in your clairvoyant wisdom and counsel countess should the Patriots trade Mac Jones well I don't think anybody's going to be surprised really when I say no because I'm not shy in sort of being a Mac champion I I even said when he was drafted, he was the quarterback that I was hoping that they drafted. I know a lot of my fellow Pats fans were very into Justin Fields. And yes, he's a talented guy. But I just felt that Mac was like a Patriots quarterback.

So I'm still on my Mac train at the moment. I know that 2022 was not a great season. It wasn't a great stop there on the Mac journey. It really wasn't. But we're moving on and we're moving upwards. So I don't believe that they should trade. And now there's multiple reasons sort of why. And I know that kind of further

into the show, we will discuss sort of more in depth of that. But the one thing that sort of had me kind of in an R in when you sort of said about this was what's his trade value really because you're coming on when it comes to from the outside you're looking at a quarterback who in his second year was thrown in with a defensive coordinator as his oc and and a rickety O-line and things like this.

All the things that we know about that we've mentioned about and we talked about before. So it's not really displaying Mac Jones in sort of his best light in regards to looking at 2022. And when you look at the teams that sort of are waiting for a new, you know, are needing, sorry, a quarterback, I'm not really sure if there's there's many buyers out there that really want to go for someone like Matt Jones simply because he's a very patriotic quarterback he's you know he's very systematic he's a very knowledgeable football smart sorry that's that's the term that I was after very football smart kind of quarterback and that's why possibly and say that's why I don't was after. Very football smart kind of quarterback. And that's why, possibly, and I say that's why, I don't know,

but why the Patriots drafted him. Because although, yes, he's nowhere near Tom Brady, I am not saying he is, you know, the heir apparent, that kind of thing. I'm not saying he's going to be Tom Brady. But he's got, he ticks a lot of the boxes that sort of Tom Brady ticks. Now, he ticks them obviously on a lower level, and I fully appreciate that at this stage. But he's got those sorts of situations that tom brady was in you know he he would what he works

hard and you know the for one of the first ones in last ones out all this kind of stuff um reviewing tape hard on himself passionate all these things are the kind of things that the boxes as i said that they tick when when it comes to a patriots quarterback so it made me wonder where you'd look at trading him too so really what would his trade value be what would other teams give up for him because it sort of feels a bit obvious that he's he's in the Patriots system to work as a Patriots quarterback so yeah it puzzled me as to sort of what his trade value would be whilst he's still developing. And when the Patriots have brought in a coaching staff around him that he's very familiar with. So the Patriots are building something around him to really show his expertise, maybe in 2023.

What would be the point in trading him away in 22 to a team that sort of fundamentally works differently, wouldn't have the sort of offensive coordinator, offensive staff there, you know, the way that Matt likes to work the playbook, you know, that kind of thing.

It just feels to me that I don't really know if there'd be many winners if, if they traded him away, what the Patriots would get for him and, and what the new team that he traded for would really kind of want from him or get out from him. I think really at this present moment, if you look at who Matt Jones is and you look at who the Patriots are, it's probably really if you were outside looking in and not saying that he was already the Patriots quarterback,

it kind of feels like he's probably already in one of the best slots that you'd put him in anyway that's a good point that's a very very good point and look you know all of the narratives right now that are surrounding mac jones and being traded are really circulating around speculation folks let's call it what it is it is speculation no one knows for sure what the patriots are going to do it's con conjecture. It's second, third-hand information that is being regurgitated in a way that's looking like a factual report. Now, those reports and reporting that a team is willing or thinking about listening or entertaining the idea of listening to a trade proposal, I've always likened that, I think it's the sports journalistic equivalent of revealing that the sun's going to rise the next morning. Patriots, everybody, every team in the league, they listen to trade proposals every single day. Trades are considered, trade offers are made. These are things that happen on a daily basis

in every war room, every front office of every nfl team really i think every professional sports team you know it really it's it's something that i think a lot of people need to understand is that these things happen every day if you don't think the phone was ringing off the hook at one patriots place for teams that wanted to trade for tom brady in his prime yeah i don't know what to tell you that was definitely happening i mean the patriots basically hung up on the person on the other end or basically went yeah okay yeah that's fun boom hang up they weren't really entertaining it but these things happen every day so when you entertain or or you report on a team entertaining the idea of listening to trade proposals you're basically reporting on the inevitable so here's where it comes through with Mac and what

you, what I believe is the key reason why he won't be traded. And that's the return on investment, the ROI. Any of you listeners out there that work in business, the first thing you're going to ask is what's my return on investment. If I'm going to invest my time, my capital, my finances, anything in this project, what return am i going to get on the investment and that's i think where the patriots uh situation becomes precarious when it comes to mac jones because for the first time since 1993 the patriots used a first round pick on a quarterback i know they brought in jimmy garoppolo with some high expectations. That wasn't a first rounder, folks. Tom Brady was a sixth rounder. I know Bledsoe was not Belichick's guy.

And eventually there was a changing of the guard there. But you're talking about a situation where Bledsoe had had a number of years to prove his worth in the system. I think he did a phenomenal job here. But obviously, Bill saw something in Tom. And no question about it. He definitely made the right decision. But what a move like that makes, the message that it sends, is that you're investing in a quarterback for the long term without any question.

When the Patriots chose Drew Bledsoe in 1993, they were making a statement that this guy was going to be the franchise quarterback here in New England for a good long time. And it was 2000 before that changed, or 2001, I should say, before that changed. So that's a period of seven years. You're not talking one year under the system with Mac Jones or two at best, if you want to count last year. Selecting quarterback at such an early point in the draft does send that message this is the guy we're going to use and we're not going to give him away for a shoddy return and claire i thought you articulated that perfectly what type of return investment are they going to get from mac jones right now it was a year in which he struggled

you turn on social media all you see is the images of him screaming on the sideline. It doesn't paint a really solid narrative that this is the guy you want to invest a first or a first and a second, or dare I say multiple firsts for. I think that's really overaggressive, but the Patriots are not going to just give Mac away for whatever, for equipment. They're going to give him away for a return that they believe strengthens this team. I don't think that package is out there to be had. So when you look at that, and the Patriots

unwillingness, and rightfully so, by the way, not to accept pennies on the dollar when it comes to Mac Jones, to me, there's really no reason why you entertain the idea of trading him. When the team comes in and blows them away with an offer, he's not going anywhere, and I just don't see that happening no i agree and it's as you said it's it's a return on the investment that they have already had they he was a first round draft pick and i

know that people would say he hasn't performed like a first round draft pick in 2022 that kind of thing and um you know we've already discussed all the factors it's like well you would expect to return a first round draft pick but there's no way that they're going to get that off the mat of 2022 regardless of how good mac jones may be again we don't really know because we've only seen really his rookie year with any support and obviously you know it wasn't it wasn't a flawless rookie year i don't know if many rookies have a flawless first year anyway and then kind of year two feels a little bit of a of a write-off really because of all the coaching issues and the airline issues and things like that so it really feels like right now it's very difficult to judge what you've got in value in

regards to Matt Jones because we're not actually certain or or you know I'm saying they're not actually certain but they may be but we're not of what is the value there is this kid worth a first round draft pick really that's what he cost but it is you know that's not what you'll get as you said on the open market today and you said it's it's your franchise quarterback so it's somebody that's that's of a high value to you as as a as a sports team but we don't actually know what his value is just yet so it kind of almost feels like well you don't necessarily know what you're trading away it's like when you find a vase that you're kind of that your granny kept in the attic and you just take it to a store and sell it you don't necessarily know what the value is because you haven't really evaluated. So, you know, 2023 feels like an evaluation year, maybe for Matt Jones to really see what

his value is to kind of going forward. Very good point. Very, very good point. And the other thing that you have to consider if you want to move your starting quarterback as well, is you have to have someone waiting in the wings that you believe is unequivocally your starting quarterback of the future the patriots moved on from the number one overall pick and drew bledsoe for a sixth rounder in tom brady they were sure they had the guy are they so sure they have the guy this time

in bailey zappy i know there are reports out there that the patriots don't see a maximum gap or any type of significant gap between these two but let me tell you the gap may not be massive folks but it is substantial and Claire and I are going to talk about that and more when we talk a little bit more about why the Patriots should not be trading Mac Jones when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. Patriots fans, the illustrious Claire, classy Claire Cooper of Pats Propaganda and FBC Patriots joins me here today, lending her wisdom, counsel, clairvoyance, class, and pizzazz to the show the way only she can each and every Wednesday. And Claire, we're already off to a big-time start.

I got a little heated in the last segment talking about some of the the the reports out there regarding mac jones and look you know um there is no this is in no way an impugnment on the initial reports i thought illustrated albert breer gave his opinion on the situation when he talked to 98 fives um um so like in bertrand last week about the fact that he thought they'd entertain ideas he's going on what he's hearing he's reporting he's making that report where i get a little miffed on these is when you start seeing second third fourth aggregators tweeting these things

out in a manner that is meant to distract from what the original report was supposed to be so really i think that's where my gripe is coming in. I want to make that very clear here. Second of all, Claire, when you look at this deal, we're both in agreement, and I thought you articulated that perfectly in the last segment, that the Patriots are probably smart to keep Mac Jones rather than trade him. Obviously, the return on investment is a big reason why, but there are other reasons why Mack is probably better suited to remain here in New England than to be elsewhere, or the Patriots are better off with him under center rather than going with someone else. When you look into your clairvoyant crystal ball, what do you see as a reason why the

Patriots would be smart to hold on to Mac Jones, independent of the return on investment? Well, the one thing that I wanted to touch on, and it doesn't necessarily mean kind of like why they're smart to keep him, but just before we go away from the financial aspects of it, this third year is kind of like a tricky time because it's the sweet spot of whether or not they're going to pick up his fifth year option and so I think that's one of the reasons why I think 2023 is so significant in evaluating his skill set anyway because from what I understand when I was listening to Tom Tom Curran and Phil Perry on their podcast um they mentioned in regards to how the the leap in financials goes from sort of a $4 million a year kind of salary to something in the region of $30 million in his, you know,

if they pick up his fifth year option, that kind of thing. So it's really important that they establish in 2023 what they do have in Mac Jones. And although you could necessarily argue, well, that doesn't really help you sort of evaluate why it's smart to keep him. No, but I just did feel that it was something that was necessary to kind of mention while we're talking about this, because because of that financial aspect of it, because of the importance of the 2023 season for him. I mean, not only have they invested financially, as you said, in regards to draft pick, that kind of thing. They've invested the time with this individual that he's been in the Patriots system now I know we're sort of semi-scrapping you too but he's been

in in that system for two years now he's been with some of their staff for two years he's been under Bill Belichick for two years now I'm wondering if you could go up to a quarterback and ask them you know how important it they would feel it would be to have two years under a great coach like Bill Belichick and what that would do for the individual so that's something that is a big investment especially when you're looking at a coach now I hate really going down this road but you're looking at a coach who is on his way to sort of retirement age Bill's no spring chicken we can't get away from this right now. So for the fact that he's invested two years of his time in Matt Jones, again, it feels like something of value. It feels like something that would be thrown away should they trade him away.

And the other thing is in regards to being smart to keep him and sort of indicating why I feel that they're looking to keep him they're not looking at trading him and I know I've kind of touched around this a little bit in the in the first segment was what they've invested in regards to coaching staff particularly below Brian now for me it's when you look at what sort of quarterback Matt Jones is in regards to sort of system how he plays that kind of thing as we've said the football smarts of him the way that he's got should we say heirs of Tom Brady rather than you know similar to already he's got sort of um inklings towards the sort of quarterback that Tom Brady was if you like and that you know because of that they've used they've

brought in sorry Bill O'Brien as coaching staff because of the, you know, the Alabama connections, the fact that there's a relationship already there with Matt Jones. Now, I'm not saying these are the only reasons, but look at them. They're big reasons to choose an OC. So for me, it feels like they have picked their offensive coach for the quarterback that they have got. So why would you spend the money doing that? Because I'm guessing Bill O'Brien isn't kind of, you know, he's not cheap. I can imagine. Why would you look at doing that and continuing to sort of foster an offense in the way that they have done in the past around a quarterback

that you're going to trade away it the pieces don't really add up and I mean they invested a lot of money in individuals like Hunter Henry, Johnny Smith now I know obviously at the time of investment they didn't know if they were going to click but you've got an individual there particularly in Hunter Henry I know that there's other players as well and I'm just picking on Hunter Henry because you know you guys know that I love my tight end so I sort of invest time in him a little bit more but the relationship between Hunter Henry and Matt Jones was really good so they've invested money in a tight end that's working well with the quarterback they've invested money in a OC who's spent time who works in the system the way the quarterback

does when there's all those sorts of things it's like well you've got all of that why would you then trade away the epicenter of all those decisions of of that financial aspect of those um you know what you've put into the team under that why would you then trade away that integral piece in regards to the quarterback. So for me, of course they're smart because they've already invested way more than just what they've invested in by getting Matt Jones, i.e. the 15th first round picket of the draft, that sort of thing. There's so much more when it comes to time, when it comes to team bonding, when it comes to team building, when it comes to team bonding when it comes to team building when it comes to

all those sorts of things as i said the the oc around him they saw that 2022 the way that they wanted to go didn't really click i don't know if it would have clicked around any quarterback really because you had something that was really foreign to the system to to the nfl really in regards to having your offensive play caller was previously a you know a decent defensive mind and he was also splitting his time with the offensive line that in itself excuse me that in itself was just kind of a really random affect that you wouldn't normally see anyway so it's just a case of they've seen that they did wrong and now they're looking at putting all of those

things right and it just feels like the things that they're putting right the way that they're putting right who they're bringing in i think quite frankly free agency will will give us a really good indication as well or maybe we'll sort of um solidify the fact that they're maybe not looking to trade macaways when they look at who they bring in and sort of what they do in free agency as well but I'd be very very surprised if it's anything that really indicates in any way shape or form that they're looking to move on from Matt Jones because as we said as we've already kind of gone over not to repeat they've just invested too much that looks like it's being built around Matt Jones as an individual to move on from him, at least right now. Yeah, without question. I think you articulated that so well,

because what this does for New England Patriots fans, for people like us in the media, for national media that's covering this team, is put things in perspective. The return on investment that we spoke about in the previous segment, Claire doesn't always revert back to the trade value or the financial contract value or anything like that. It's about investing capital in personnel and the Patriots have the personnel in place to run the type of offense that Mac is so adept at being able to run and did such a great job with in Alabama, bringing in a Bill Ryan kind of run that similar type of offense that Mack is so adept at being able to run and did such a great job with in Alabama.

Bringing in a Bill Ryan to kind of run that similar type of system, the type where you lead the receivers under the defense, you're able to find them in quick, short yardage completions. Let the receiver go ahead and get yards after the catch. And then what you do is you get solid guys that can run routes and get the ball at the point of catch and be able you do is you get solid guys that can run routes and get you know the ball at the point of catch and be able to get yardage that way that's where guys like jacoby myers hopefully cooler heads prevail i think he's so integral to this uh offense that i'd love to

see him back obviously at the right price folks i'm not saying break the bank but i think there can be a deal a mutually beneficial deal to be worked out here um i did see claire and i don't know if you saw this uh if you didn't you probably are as shocked as i was when you read it but uh pro football focus calling hunter henry a potential cut target for the patriots this year i don't see that coming at all yes i know the patriots have 10.5 million reasons why a cut of honor henry might benefit them in the pocketbook folks i went on record several times last year saying the patriots were going to do the same thing with isaiah win 10 million dollar cap savings you can't keep him on the roster you've got guys cut him loose patriots didn't care about investing

that money they felt that they were investing it in the right guy and obviously that didn't work out too well but you get the point the patriots are not afraid to invest money they're not afraid to invest money in the right guys i can tell you i've covered hunter henry in his time in los angeles he is the right guy and he will be resurrected in this offense under bill o'brien i still think there's a lot they can get out of john o'smith i haven't given up on john by any stretch of the imagination because he hasn't been put in the right system. Bill O'Brien knows how to game plan and knows how to scheme for two tight ends. He can use the running backs to open up play action. I think you're going to see a lot

of that. So when you look at the Patriots and what they're doing game planning wise, Claire, I completely agree with you. And for lack of a a better term and i'm sorry to do this but i keep coming back to that massive gap comment and everybody says well there's not a massive gap between jones and between bailey zappy yeah is that a reason why you may want to move on thank you thank you sorry to interrupt you but how could we saw bailey zi for what? Was it two games? Am I correct in thinking it was two games? Well, technically. The season was that long ago now. Yeah, I mean, technically, if you want to really.

He appeared in four. He appeared only after a few snaps in the Green Bay game and then in most of the second half for the Chicago game. So, appeared in four, but started two. Right. That's where I got my two. I knew there was a two, so I apologize for getting my stats wrong. 2-0 in those games, though.

Nobody's down in Bailey here. This is it. But yes, no, I've got nothing against Bailey Zappi. With his two game starters and his four games played. It's a very small catchment to really be judging now i could be completely

wrong barely zappy could be the next lightning in a bottle if they give him a chance you know it's the nfl anything is freaking possible however looking back at it from a patriot standpoint from a patriot's fan standpoint it just doesn't feel i don't feel we've seen enough of either of these individuals to really give it a massive judgment call because mac jones had as as we've already said his second year was troubled with rife and strife and baby's happy we've only seen a small sample size so how can we really make that proper judgment to say this one guy should be out on this one guy should be in genuinely yeah exactly and i think in a lot of ways you look at those two games that bailey did lead the patriots to victory there were fun games to watch if you're a fan i can understand why you're looking at this and saying yeah when mac was in there they look like a mess bailey's in there everything's clicking

they're scoring touchdowns. I'm doing shots. I'm doing keg stands. Everything's going well. Not really, folks. I think a lot of that is romanticized hindsight. And in no way am I trying to discredit what Bailey did. He deserves an awful lot of credit, a lion's share of credit for keeping that team in contention when he did and keeping that team afloat. When you lose your starting quarterback

it's one of the toughest things for a pro football team to overcome but it should be noted those victories came against the detroit lions the cleveland browns the 31st and the 25th ranked passing defenses in the nfl for 2022 that has to count for something um and a lot of what you saw in the Patriots scheme was a simplified single read offense that was a little bit easier for a rookie quarterback to be able to do what they need to do in order to get the ball into the end zone and keep the ball moving and again as a rookie quarterback you have to go in and execute and Bailey deserves all the credit in the world for that but to sit there and say that this massive gap is so close and that there isn't a gap and that's a reason to go ahead and pull the trigger on a trade i think it's the reverse i think if you don't see a massive gap there that is no reason to jettison the guy that you invested a first round pick in and only have two

years of a sample size to really determine what his ceiling is i don't think we determine what mac jones's ceiling was the argument that i get from the bledsoe brady argument is well they did the same thing with brady no they didn't bledsoe they knew his feeling he had been the quarterback for seven years seven years as opposed to two is a much greater sample size yes they went on a lot of blind faith with Tom, but they saw it in him. Now, and I will say this, and I'll give credit where credit is due,

if the Patriots are seeing something completely different in practice where the media is not allowed to be able to be, to observe, and they're seeing something completely different, and that's where this stuff is coming from, that's a whole other argument, folks. And I will acknowledge that, and I will eat my crow.

And I will, you know, I will have my humble, I will serve my humble pie a la mode at that point. With his built bar. Absolutely. Yes, absolutely. With the built bar. And delicious flavors available, folks, anywhere you get your built bars, whether it's Walmart, Sam's Club, or built.com. See, I'm doing a live read right now, and I'm not even getting paid for it. That's how much I love these things folks all kidding aside claire see look ultimate drop in that the ultimate drop

in folks just just that's why the clairvoyance is always here on on locked on patriots but in any way you get my point that is exactly where i'm coming from yeah that's exactly where i'm coming from it's no knock on bailey zappy it's really no knock on what the patriots did last year that's over it's a new year and i think the patriots are eager to see what matt can do in this new system with a new coach if you're having these difficulties halfway through the season yeah time to fold up shop and then time to uh really evaluate what you're going to do my take on it though is I don't think you're going to see what you saw last year on the field.

Countess, what can I say? You've not only brought out an unsolicited live read from me, but you've reeled me in on a day where my blood pressure was going up a little bit. All kidding aside, folks, she is the illustrious Countess of Glass, and we always love having her here each and every Wednesday. Because it is your two-year anniversary on your very own podcast, Countess, you have the floor. Please let everyone know where they can find you, where they can interact with you.

Let us know a little bit about this anniversary episode coming up, because I, for one, can't wait to listen. Well, as you guys probably know if you do listen to a clear perspective it was a mailbag episode so I had questions in through social media from listeners of the show so I answered all the questions with my lovely assistant Chudders so that was fun so it's a good it's a good giggle because he throws me a couple of curveballs as well because he likes to add things as a joke so you know it's a good laugh you'll get to hear sort of my Patriots answers and there was a few kind a good laugh you'll get to hear sort of my patriots answers and there was a few kind of fun questions in there as well that sort of gets to know me a little bit

more if you like so there's yeah there's definitely some fun and frolics as i like to advertise for this episode so big thank you to everybody that does listen to a clear perspective as well as obviously locked on patriots of course but um yeah big thank you to you guys and i hope you'll check it out it should hopefully be dropping on the anniversary of my very first show, which will be the 23rd of February. So hopefully when you wake up on Thursday morning, whichever kind of time zone you're in, you should be able to get a clear perspective

of the two-year anniversary. So just a big thank you to everybody that supported me along the way. Mike, especially, because he's been with me since the very beginning when I wrote for full press coverage before I even did a podcast, before I even decided I wanted to do a podcast. So big thanks to him as always. And to everybody, to everybody out there that listens and that watches and has supported me on this journey that I have no idea where I'm going, where I've been, where I've come from, but I just appreciate you all. So thank you very much.

Well, Clare, you're very welcome. Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate that, but no thanks necessary. You have been a valued member and will continue to be a valued member here of the Locked On family for as long as I hold the microphone. And I am extremely proud of the work that you've done and extremely happy about the work that you've done. But also I'd be remiss if I didn't say I'm not one slightest bit surprised. I knew it from the moment that you hit the microphone, that there was going to be something that was going to come of this

that was going to bring a lot of joy and a lot of knowledge to Patriots fans. You've done both, and I commend you on that. So congratulations on two. Here's to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, whatever. We're going to continue and keep going, and we're going to continue to keep going right here on Locked on Patriots, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, whatever. We're going to continue and keep going. And we're going to continue to keep going right here on Locked on Patriots, folks, as well,

because we have not wrapped up the week's news notes. And anything you need to know from Foxborough will continue to be added right here on Thursday and also on Friday as we continue to take an early look now toward the 2023 NFL Combine taking place next week in Indianapolis. Locked On Patriots is going to be boots on the ground, folks, and we're excited about that. So keep it right here to Locked On Patriots for all of your latest news, notes, and analysis

from Patriots Nation. On behalf of the illustrious Claire, Clazzy Claire Cooper, and all of her clairvoyants, Claz and Pizazz, I'm Mike DeBate. Continue to stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.