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Mac Jones has the starting quarterback job with the New England Patriots all to himself after the team made the decision to release both Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham on Tuesday, August 29.
Zappe’s fate was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who called the move “a surprise.”
The #Patriots have waived backup QB Bailey Zappe, source said. A surprise.
That may be an understatement when the news about Zappe is combined with the decision made regarding Cunningham. The former Louisville quarterback, who signed as an undrafted free agent and was used at wide receiver and on special teams during preseason, was also waived, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
The Patriots have also waived QB/WR Malik Cunningham, per source. Mac Jones is the lone QB on the roster.
Cunningham might have had the chance to become QB2 after Zappe had appeared a lock for the role. The latter turned heads with some solid performances in relief of an injured Jones last season.
Zappe’s composure, along with question marks about Jones’ temperament, as well as his sluggish development as a passer, even had some believing a quarterback controversy might be brewing in New England.
Head coach Bill Belichick has ended any such speculation with an emphatic show of support for Jones. It’s now up to the player selected 15th overall in the 2021 NFL draft to prove he merits the faith.
Much will depend on Jones’ ability to make greater use of an improved supporting cast in a more expansive scheme called by returning offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Patriots All In on Jones
Any doubts about Jones clearly aren’t held by Belichick, who has essentially bet the Patriots’ season on No. 10 making a fairly significant third-year leap. Jones regressed during his sophomore campaign in the pros, largely because of a bland offense called by former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
O’Brien’s return will help, as should the arrivals of more dynamic pass-catchers like tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Still, there will be those who question if Jones can make the most of the new targets after he averaged just 6.8 yards per attempt last season, per Pro Football Reference.
A statistic like that made 2022 fourth-round pick Zappe a favorite for some, but NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran believes the second-year passer “didn’t improve” enough to “keep a competition alive.”
Zappe not building on his promising cameos as a rookie left Belichick facing a difficult decision. His solution has been to gamble by leaving Jones as the only quarterback on the roster.
It’s a risk when some, including Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, believed Belichick wanted Zappe to shine this offseason and give the coach license to bench Jones. Not for the first time, Belichick has gone against the consensus.
He’ll be vindicated if Jones ups his game this year. If not, Belichick will be forced to answer plenty of questions about what he couldn’t see in both Zappe and Cunningham.
Patriots Could Rue Ending Intriguing Experiment
Finding ways to unleash Cunningham’s naturally explosive athleticism was a worthy experiment the Patriots might regret not pursuing further. The player seemed to have done enough to catch Belichick’s eye, with the 71-year-old telling “The Greg Hill Show” how he rated Cunningham as a “really interesting player. Kid never played receiver before or returned kicks, and he’s done both. As well as playing quarterback.”
Here’s what Bill Belichick said about the chances Malik Cunnigham makes the 53 man roster!
For his part, Cunningham had revealed a willingness to play wherever he’s asked to, but it wasn’t enough to keep him around. Yet, Cunningham’s selfless attitude might have won him admirers after Jones courted controversy at times last season.
The most notable example occurred when cameras caught Jones unleashing an expletive-laden outburst toward Patricia during a 24-10 defeat to AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills. It wasn’t the first time Jones’ behavior came into question.
A supposed cheap shot against safety Jacquan Brisker of the Chicago Bears last season followed a similar altercation involving Carolina Panthers’ defensive end Brian Burns from 2021. Those incidents earned Jones a reputation as “disrespectful.”
The Patriots need Jones to avoid skirmishes, respond to coaching and play like an elite signal-caller. In the meantime, Belichick must decide if there’s any way back for Zappe and Cunningham, with ESPN’s Mike Reiss believing “they could return to the Patriots’ practice squad,” provided they cleared waivers.
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Patriots Make ‘Surprise’ Decision on QB Bailey Zappe’s Future: Report