Patriots-Tom Brady intrigue grows with Trent Brown’s social media activity

Trent Brown liked an Instagram post suggesting the Patriots move on from current quarterback Mac Jones and reconnect with former quarterbacks.

New England Patriots offensive lineman Trent Brown liked an Instagram post from the official NFL on ESPN page, which included a quote from ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell, suggesting that the Patriots should move on from current quarterback Mac Jones and rekindle their former relationships with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo.

The full quote from Barnwell states:

"“The Patriots have to at least call Brady’s people to inquire whether he would like to return to New England to finish out his career. …They could also pursue Garoppolo.”"

The like from Brown came after the Patriots’ embarrassing end to their game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15. The like first gained attention after a fan on Twitter posted a screenshot, and Brown has since unliked the post after it garnered wider media attention.

Mac Jones is not to blame for the Patriots’ problems

The Patriots’ 2022 season has been disappointing, to say the least. Their offense has regressed dramatically since last season, and many blame quarterback Mac Jones.

Jones, a rookie in 2021, had an impressive rookie season, recording 3,801 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, was a candidate for Rookie of the Year, and was voted to the 2021 Pro Bowl.

The offensive play caller is the only major difference in the Patriots’ offense between 2021 and 2022. Last year, the team flourished with longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels calling the plays. However, when McDaniels left in the offseason to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, New England brought back former longtime defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to call the plays.

The offense has regressed since Patricia took over, which has not only has it been frustrating for fans, but even more so for players. Mac Jones has openly shown his frustration during and after games, which is uncharacteristic for anyone playing for Bill Belichick. The play calling for New England has been predictable, with opposing defenses quickly figuring out their conservative game plan.

Penalties and mental mistakes have also cost the Patriots, and one of the players to blame the most for that is, in fact, Trent Brown. Brown has committed 11 penalties this year, costing New England 50 yards overall.

If anything, New England needs to move on from Trent Brown once again and fix the issues surrounding the offensive line.

The Patriots are usually a tight-knit group, with players often defending and praising their fellow teammates to the media. Brown’s social media activity received backlash from fans, who believe an offensive lineman should support his quarterback, which is perhaps the reason Brown unliked the post.

The Patriots’ quarterback situation for 2023 is uncertain. Will they stick with Mac Jones? Or will they rekindle their relationships with either Tom Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo?