"It's a middle finger to the fans" - Belichick benching Mac Jones for Bailey Zappe was out of pure spite, Mike Florio claims

During the second quarter of their loss to the Chicago Bears, Mac Jones was benched by New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for Bailey Zappe. It was the quarterback's first game back from an ankle injury and he attempted six passes before landing on the bench.

It was a curious decision by Belichick. If he wasn't sure that Jones was ready to play, then why not start Zappe? Zappe had helped the team go 2-1 in the last three weeks and it might have been a different game. ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio believes that Belichick started Jones before benching him out of spite for the fans. He said this on Pro Football Talk Live:

"Conspiracy theory is it's a middle finger to the fans who are trying to tell Bill Belichick what to do. Here's your hero, Bailey Zappe, flopping around like a fish in a boat. He doesn't know what to do in the second half. The whole thing is just weird."

Some Patriots fans had been calling for Zappe to remain the starter. Many felt he had earned it by playing so well, while others felt that Mac Jones deserved to start once he was healthy. Florio incredulously went on:

"We're not used to seeing it from any team. This is some Steve Spurrier crap where you think you're going to use two quarterbacks? This isn't Bill Belichick."

Mac Jones - New England Patriots v Cleveland Browns

Belichick claims it was his plan all along to use both quarterbacks in the game, but that seems out of character, according to Florio. It also seemed like he pulled Jones after an interception rather than sitting him down when he planned to.

Much of the New England offense, including Jakobi Meyers, was surprised by the move.

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Which quarterback will start for New England: Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe?

When Zappe entered the game, he immediately led two touchdown drives in the last few minutes of the first half. He threw for one of those touchdowns while Rhamondre Stevenson ran for the other.

In the second half, however, the offense couldn't generate anything. The second touchdown drive that Zappe led put them up 14-10, but they would then be outscored 23-0 and lose 33-14.

Going forward, Belichick was quiet on which quarterback would be the starter. If it's Mac Jones and he falters, fans will once again call for Bailey Zappe. If it's Zappe and he's unable to make an impact, then Belichick might look like he made a poor decision.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Pro Football Talk Live and H/T Sportskeeda.