My wife and I were watching the NFL Draft the other night, with very different perspectives. I love football and was glued to the broadcast, fully immersed in who my team, the NY Giants would select. Barbara would have preferred some Hall Mark Channel Chick flick, but being a good sport, watched with a little less enthusiasm. After 35 years together, she’s firmly in the “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em” camp.
While I was making calculations as to which of the college stars would be available by the time the Giants were on the clock with pick number 11, Barb was starting to feel sorry for one player I knew the Giants wouldn’t pick, Alabama Quarterback Mac Jones, He reportedly would go to the 49ers at pick 3. He didn’t. He didn’t go 4th or 5th or 6th and as each pick was made—the cameras would focus on a stoic Mac Jones and Barbara began to feel sorry for him. OK I did too. After all he led his team The Alabama Crimson Tide to an undefeated 13-win season and the National Championship. Almost every game was a blowout. So why, pick after pick was Mac the Undefeated being ignored? Turns out he really wasn’t. The two quarterbacks picked ahead of him were running QB’s and meshed better with the teams that took them, the 49ers, and the Chicago Bears.
Jones on the other hand is a classic drop back quarterback and extremely accurate. When he fell to the New England Patriots, the light went on. He was perfect for the Bill Bellichek offense that Tom Brady ran so well for nearly 20 years. How impressed was New England? The last time the Pats took a quarterback in the first round, Mac Jones hadn’t been born, the year was 1993. Suddenly we didn’t feel sorry for Mac Jones. In fact, I envied him. He was going to a storied NFL Franchise, with a Hall of Fame Coach. Reportedly his contract will exceed 15 million dollars, All of which is pretty amazing.
This to me, is even more amazing. Did you know exactly what you wanted to be when you were 7 years old. Did it work out?
When Mac Jones was 7, a 2nd grader in Jacksonville Florida, his teacher asked each of the students what they wanted to be when they grew up. Figure, there were a few wannabe firemen, nurses, doctors’ cowboys and garbagemen.
Mac Jones drew the teacher a picture and wrote what he planned to be.
An NFL quarterback.
Add confidence, determination, and fortune telling to that undefeated football resume.
No need to feel sorry for Mac Jones. Feel sorry for defense that will, have to play against him.