FOXBOROUGH — Mac Jones’ second summer in Foxborough has been markedly different than the first.
Rather than competing with former MVP Cam Newton for the starting quarterback gig, everybody in the building knows this is Jones’ show. Jakobi Meyers, who was Jones’ favorite target as a rookie, says that the quarterback has taken his leadership to “crazy” levels this summer.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones drops back to pass as offensive assistant Joe Judge looks on last month at the team’s practice facility in Foxborough, Mass. AP file photo
“We know he’s the guy now. New offense, but at the end of the day we all know we’re trying to make sure we get on his page. He’s definitely taking authority and his leadership has been crazy this year,” Meyers said. “He’s always in the building and he knows what he wants. It’s been helpful for us and we’re just trying to make sure we’re there for him.”
Meyers believes he and Jones are beginning to develop some of the ESP that elite quarterbacks and receivers always seem to have. Back in the day, Tom Brady could give Julian Edelman a look and the two would be on the same page. Meyers believes some of the growth with Jones is due to his own background as a quarterback, and he’s excited for what their connection can bring this season.
“I just understand what he wants,” Meyers said. “Sometimes he don’t really got to go out there and tell me exactly what he’s thinking. I feel like just from watching the game, and watching him play and just paying attention to how he plays, I can kinda understand where he wants me to be and just get there. Then if we need to talk about it, we’ll talk about it, but for the most part I think I understand where he’s coming from.”
Earlier this summer, Jones identified the wide receiver as one of his closest friends off the field, too. Meyers said it wasn’t hard to build camaraderie, despite the quarterback’s pedigree.
“It’s pretty easy to build a connection with Mac,” Meyers said. “He’s one of those guys that is just a great guy. Like, if you were to meet him outside you wouldn’t think he was a first-round pick who won this, won that, accomplished this, accomplished that. You’d think he was just a normal, goofy young man who just goes out there and loves life as much as he can.
“It’s easy to be around him. And that’s me and all the other guys. We enjoy being around him. We enjoy competing with him, for him. He’s a great guy to be around. I appreciate him for what he’s brought.”
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