Patriots icon shares theory on struggles of Mac Jones

New England Patriots icon and Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player Julian Edelman has a simple theory regarding why quarterback Mac Jones hasn't turned things around playing under offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien this season. 

"It's just been tough for Mac to execute in the high-pressure situations and it comes down to his confidence," Edelman said during Thursday's edition of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd", per Mike Kadlick of Audacy. "He’s lost his confidence, and once you lose your confidence in this league, it's tough. I remember there was a couple times where, you drop a ball or something here or there, and you start thinking about it the next play. Easy play, oh this is going to be easy, and when you’re thinking about things, it’s not allowing you to play fast. It’s not allowing your subconscious to kick in, and instincts play the game for you, and that’s what it’s been right now."

Head coach Bill Belichick benched Jones three times across New England's first 10 games, most recently after the 25-year-old threw an awful interception in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany. Numerous stories emerged over the past week claiming Jones has lost some or most members of the locker room, but Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai insisted Thursday that's not the case. 

Belichick hasn't yet said if Jones, primary backup Bailey Zappe, journeyman Will Grier or undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham will start at quarterback when 2-8 New England plays at the lowly New York Giants (2-8) on Nov. 26. 

"He’s just lost his confidence," Edelman said about Jones. "It sucks for him, but, you know, that's what's happened." 

Edelman added that quarterbacks and head coaches get the blame when teams lose and receive credit for victories. Jones now has gone 8-16 across his past 24 starts, but facing a Giants team that may be tanking could help the 2021 first-round draft pick build some confidence ahead of December.