Mac Jones asked to seek release from New England Patriots and join NFL rivals

New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski suggests that struggling quarterback Mac Jones should ask the team to release him and joined their rivals, the Cleveland Browns.

Mac Jones’ stay in New England with the Patriots must come to an end, Rob Gronkowski believes.

In an interview with Kay Adams on “Up & Adams” on Wednesday, the Patriots legend had some words for the struggling quarterback after revealing that head coach Bill Belichick would not give the starting signal before the game ahead of New England game on November 26 against the New York Giants.

“I would say that if I were Mac Jones too… he’s not respected in New England,” Gronkowski said. “Coach Belichick has played all these games with him – Bailey Zappe isn’t even on Mac Jones’ level – you should never, ever sit Mac Jones. You tried it once, you tried it twice, it didn’t work. Now he’s doing it again… He’s not respected there.

Because the 25-year-old Jones seemingly is not connecting with the coaching staff and his teammates in the locker room, Gronkowski suggested it would be best if the quarterback and team just went their separate ways.

“I think Mac Jones should finally, even now, ask for his release,” the 34-year-old said. “If you talk to me about what he should do, ask for his release.

“And if approved, he should sign with the Cleveland Browns and start a new career in there. They need a quarterback. Imagine that Kay, how awesome would that be? How wild would that be?

“With the Patriots’ rival Browns missing Deshaun Watson, their franchise quarterback, for the rest of the 2023 NFL season with an injured right shoulder, there is an opening in Cleveland that Jones potentially could fill, according to Gronkowski.

“I think he would fit, there’s no doubt about it.” Gronkowski said. “He’s got all the weapons around him and that will determine if Mac Jones is the real deal or not. I think he’s a decent quarterback.

“I don’t think he really has that many weapons around him either… they are never on the same wavelength. It’s just that I don’t think it fits anymore, it just doesn’t look pretty anymore. I also did not see this healing.

After a promising rookie season in 2021 in which Jones helped lead the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a Wild Card spot, the team has progressively gotten worse. The next year, the Patriots finished with an 8-9 record and this season was worse than the previous two seasons.

More than half a year ago, New England was 2-8, the AFC’s worst record and tied with the Giants and Arizona. The Cardinals have the second-worst record in the NFL. Only the Carolina Panthers have a worse record, 1-8.

With the Browns needing a quarterback and Jones needing a change of scenery, Gronkowski’s proposal might not be too far-fetched.