BOSTON -- For the second time in the span of a week, a reporter has noted that the Patriots' coaching staff made an effort to not criticize Mac Jones too harshly for any of his mistakes.
Earlier this week, that nugget came from FOX Sports' Henry McKenna. On Friday, it was reiterated by The Athletic's Jeff Howe.
"[Bill] Belichick instructed the coaching staff not to be too hard on Jones last season, according to the same sources," Howe wrote. "If Jones made a mistake or needed to be corrected, instead of yelling at him, the coaching staff generally took a more constructive approach.