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Mac Jones is not the future while Bill Belichick in tough position for the New England Patriots, says Jason Bell

Sky Sports NFL’s Jason Bell and Phoebe Schecter discuss the future of New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones after Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts: “He has not developed and, if anything, he has regressed over the last three years”

The future of Mac Jones was plunged into further doubt on Sunday as he and the New England Patriots offense endured another turbulent day on their way to a 10-6 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts.

Jones threw an untimely interception to Julian Blackmon at the goal line with just four minutes to play before being benched for Bailey Zappe at the two-minute warning, salt-in-the-wound coming in the form of chants of ‘Zappe, Zappe’ ringing around Deutsche Bank Park.

He had almost been picked off by Blackmon in the end zone earlier in the game as a misunderstanding with his intended receiver stumped what had been a promising drive downfield.

With the game on the line, the Patriots turned to their backup. And while Jones has been benched on previous occasions, this one came with a different, perhaps more defining, feel.

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“I can tell you one thing for sure: Mac Jones is not the future,” said Sky Sports NFL’s Jason Bell.

“Not letting him have the opportunity at the end to go down there and score, that is about pure belief. ‘This isn’t for you and we’re going to have to move on’.

“It was a tough day for him. Mac Jones, probably not the future.”

Jones played down suggestions of injury after the game and admitted the decision to pull him was merely down to performance.

For all the promise that had been shown in his rookie year, the 2021 first-round pick has become the face of a stagnant offense showing few signs of improvement under Bill O’Brien.

“They still want that pocket passer. But they need somebody that has got a little bit more athleticism and a better feel for the pocket,” explained Sky Sports NFL’s Phoebe Schecter.

“He has not developed and, if anything, he has regressed over the last three years.

“When it comes down to it, it almost gets to a point like with guys like Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson, where they become a hindrance to themselves and they lose that confidence.

“Also you add the fact that he has really lost that locker room in a lot of different ways. You usually look to your quarterback, your leader on the field, to help hype you up… but that’s just not Mac Jones.”