Things have been slightly off-balance in the world of Auburn football ever since rookie QB Mac Jones replaced former Auburn superstar Cam Newton as the Patriots’ starter and Newton has yet to find a new job.
Over the weekend, the Patriots went up against the Carolina Panthers, and fans are outraged over a Mac Jones “tackle” that happened in the first quarter. Jones was sacked by Carolina defensive end Brian Burns and fumbled the ball, and as Burns righted himself to go after the loose ball Jones grabbed his leg near the ankle.
Burns left the field and was examined for an ankle injury, per AL.com, and later rejoined the game. Following the game, Carolina linebacker Hassan Reddick called Jones out for the play, which head coach Matt Rhule agreed should have been a penalty:
"“I definitely thought it was a dirty play,” Reddick told reporters after the game. “I actually saw and witnessed the play while it was happening as I was running. Seen them over there, first it looked like he was trying to trip or kick Burns. Then next thing you know, I saw him tugging on Burns’ ankle. I thought it was completely dirty. Hopefully, it’s something that the league addresses.”"
Although Patriots head coach Bill Belichick defended his QB and insisted that Jones thought Burns had the ball, Auburn football fans on Twitter agreed that Jones conducted the play with “intent to injure” and that it was a dirty move for the former Crimson Tide quarterback.
Obviously I have an intense bias against Mac and I hope he’s destined for mediocrity as an NFL QB, but this is some horse shit. Definition of a dirty play. https://t.co/RilSUNZF0T
— AU_Propaganda (@AuPropaganda) November 8, 2021
cannot fathom how crappy of an individual you'd have to be to do this to another competitor. mac jones is a scumbag https://t.co/kRTz03Yp5b
— joshdub (@joshdub_) November 8, 2021
That’s a bad look. People’s career get ended on stuff like this. https://t.co/L8K7TJdaaL
— Kyle (@AU_kyle_stokes) November 8, 2021
Regardless of where Mac Jones played college football, it’s important that rules are followed so players don’t suffer career-ending injuries or major setbacks.