Ryan Clark compares Mac Jones to Grayson Allen after controversial hit on Eli Apple
Following Saturday’s eventful loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones found himself doused in controversy once again over a dirty play. Jones dropped back on one play and lost the ball as he was sacked, with the Bengals picking it up and running the other way. On the run-back, Jones slid in front of Cincy cornerback Eli Apple, taking his legs out from under him. Somehow, Jones didn’t earn a penalty for the cheap block, but he sure got roasted by folks throughout the country for another dirty play.
Of course, this isn’t Mac Jones’ first rodeo with a dirty hit controversy. Last year, he grabbed and turned Brian Burns’ ankle during a play against the Panthers. So it’s hard to give him the benefit of the doubt regarding the play on Apple. And the First Take crew didn’t hesitate to pile on Jones.
“This is absolutely a dirty play,” stated Ryan Clark during Monday’s show, noting Jones’ history. “This isn’t the first dirty play from Mac Jones. You can go back to the Brian Burns play, where he twists his ankle or when he slides against the Chicago Bears and kicks his foot up.”
Clark continued, explaining that Mac Jones may just be one of those guys who’s sort of known for playing dirty. Then, he compared him to the ultimate dirty play devil.
“You think about guys like Ndamukong Suh, who has been labeled this way, or a guy like Rodney Harrison. It’s very rare we hear things like that from the quarterback position, but this guy has had some plays that I would call ‘turd plays,’ and if you’re playing against the New England Patriots, you have to know who you’re dealing with. You have to know that you’re dealing with the Grayson Allen of the NFL.”
Grayson Allen? You know, the same one who played for Duke and was known as a serial tripper? That’s a tough comparison if you’re Mac Jones.
But let Ryan Clark back it up:
“I say Grayson Allen for this point, his play on the field is not elite. We’ve seen Tom Brady do some questionable things, but it’s okay, because he’s the GOAT. Mac Jones has not been a great player and Mac Jones has done a lot of things that are extremely suspect.”
Clark thinks this behavior by Jones is going to cost him when defensive players start taking their own cheap shots on him.
“So, if I’m a player that’s playing against him, the protections of the quarterback are absolutely gone when you’re going against Mac Jones because you know as player, he won’t be trying to protect you.”
Mac Jones is garnering a reputation nobody would want. Until he stops playin’ dirty or starts playing great football, these sort of antics will be what he’s known for.