Mac Jones reveals reaction to earning starting job, relationship with Cam Newton

Rookie quarterback Mac Jones stated that he was not surprised that he would be starting for the New England Patriots this season, and that he will continue to stay in touch with Cam Newton. Jones spoke about how he discovered he was the starter in a radio appearance on WEEI 93.7 FM.

Mac Jones learned he’d start over Cam Newton

During a radio appearance on the Merloni and Fauria radio show, Jones was asked about how he found out the news that he was the starting quarterback. Jones downplayed his excitement at the announcement, more concerned with the teammates he played with that didn’t make the 53-man roster.

“I think it was just kind of with the team meeting and stuff,” Jones said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of guys that they have to get rid of and stuff and it is a tough day for everybody. So, just to be in that room and be where I am at right now as a rookie just to hear that, it’s hard for everybody because there’s a lot of teammates on that day that got let go.”

“But, I am looking forward,” Jones continued. “It is a great opportunity and it’s something I have always wanted to do — be a NFL starting quarterback. But like I said, it doesn’t really mean much. The label is the label, but you’ve got to go out and produce and that’s just what it comes down to.”

Jones was then asked about veteran quarterback Cam Newton and how it was playing alongside him. Jones said that Newton was a great mentor this summer and he knows the two will stay in touch.

Jones was less forthcoming with details about the Patriots’ conversations with him once he became a starter, but was confident that he and his coaching staff were on the same page.

“Yeah, of course,” Jones answered when asked if the Patriots coaches had more information for him on that day. “That’s what you can assume and it’s kind of how it goes. You just want to be on the same page as all the coaches and everything. They did a good job of explaining the entire situation and a lot of that is private. It’s between me and coach and all that. Obviously, you have to have that conversation and it was good. I told them that it’s a great pleasure to be named quarterback, but at the same time I feel like we have a lot of work to do and we’re just going to work every day and stack the days together.”

Jones was then asked if he was surprised by the decision or any of the conversations the coaches had with him.

“Not really,” Jones explained. “I mean, like I always say, I prepare to be the starter, and every day you come in and I got the chance to get a lot of reps, so nothing really changes. Just trying to be a good teammate. Trying to learn the plays every day and fix what I messed up on, listen to Josh [McDaniels] and all the guys in the quarterback room, you just take their advice like I always have since I have been here.”

“Like I said, nothing really changes. It’s exciting.”