$15 Million Mac Jones Loses $23,976 Amidst Bill Belichick Paradox

Jan 1, 2023 | 7:30 AM EST

$15 Million Mac Jones Loses $23,976 Amidst Bill Belichick Paradox

Jan 1, 2023 | 7:30 AM EST

2022 has not been a good time for Mac Jones and the New England Patriots. Their playoff chances are shrinking as each game week goes by. And now, the QB’s actions in the week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals have come back to bite his pocket. Jones seems to be suffering alone amid a head coach Bill Belichick paradox.

After what many called a ‘dirty play’ against the Bengals, Jones did not find any support from Belichick on the matter. And he has lost $23,976 for the actions.

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Mac Jones feels the heat in the pocket

The NFL has slapped a fine of $13,367 on Mac Jones for his low block on the Bengals cornerback Eli Apple. The incident happened during the Patriots‘ Christmas eve clash with the Bengals when the defense picked up a Jones fumble to take it home for a touchdown.

In addition to the fine for the low block, the league has issued a separate fine of $10,609. This one is for a separate unnecessary roughness violation. So, the Patriots QB has lost a total of $23,976 for a single game.

The NFL fined #Patriots QB Mac Jones $23,976 for his actions in last week's loss to the #Bengals — $13,367 for his low block on Eli Apple and $10,609 for a separate unnecessary roughness violation.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 31, 2022

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The fine comes amid a paradox from head coach Belichick, who refused to publicly support his QB. The press asked him about it during the pre-game talk as the Patriots got ready for the Miami Dolphins. He said his focus is on the crunch battle.

“Yeah, I’m not going to sit up here and comment about that. Right now, my focus is on the Miami Dolphins. It’s not on some other game, some other play, some other year, what somebody else said or didn’t say. We’re trying to get ready for the Dolphins. And so, that’s where it’s at. So, honestly, I don’t even think about those things,” Belichick said.

Although Jones has given his side of the story, no support from the coach can be bad for his confidence before the all-important Dolphins game.

The struggle for the Patriots

The Patriots face the Dolphins in a crunch battle in week 17 and all their playoff hopes are connected to this game. A defeat here would certainly be the end of the road for Belichick’s men.

One good news for the home team though, the visitors will be without their star QB Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa is in the league’s concussion protocol after getting hit in the defeat against the Green Bay Packers.

The Patriots are 7-8 overall after 16 weeks of action and are third in the AFC East standings. So, they need Mac Jones to be at his best for the day. Can the QB shrug off the ghosts and take the team to the playoffs?

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Written by

Shivam Pratap Singh

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Shivam Pratap Singh is a seasoned NFL writer at Essentially Sports. With a master's degree in international and area studies from a prestigious university, Shivam leverages his academic background to gain a deeper understanding of the global impact of sports. Shivam's passion for football developed early in his career as a writer. One of his breakthrough moments as a writer came when he reported on the '49ers GM John Lynch QB Announcement', demonstrating his talent for breaking news and providing insightful analysis. When not immersed in football, Shivam keeps up with the latest happenings in his favorite soccer club, Manchester United, and the wild European soccer scene. He is a passionate fan of the sport and enjoys writing about the intersection of football and culture.

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Edited by

Debmallya Chakraborty