In a dazzling display of post-season drama, former New England Patriots running back Damien Harris has publicly blamed Bill Belichick for Mac Jones' struggles in New England, and as it turns out, even robots need a bit of flexibility. Jones, who was recently traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, had a roller-coaster ride under Belichick's stern guidance.

Harris pointed out that the removal of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was a critical factor in Jones’ downfall. Under McDaniels, Jones had a stellar season, leading the Patriots to the playoffs and even earning a Pro Bowl nod. Apparently, McDaniels was the secret sauce that made Mac Jones more palatable to the Patriots' recipe for success. Remove that ingredient, and suddenly the dish is unsavory.

But Belichick, known for his gritty “my way or the highway” approach, decided to go full Gordon Ramsay on the team's offensive setup. Enter Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, neither of whom had any prior experience coaching an offense. Appointing these two to take the helm for Mac Jones was, in Harris' words, a recipe for disaster—a bold culinary experiment gone horribly wrong in the Michelin-star kitchen of football.

Harris didn't hold back, claiming that Belichick was hopelessly “stuck in his ways”, which made life difficult for Jones. It seems the venerable coach was less a flexible mentor and more of a cantankerous drill sergeant. You know, the kind of leadership that convinces you it’s a good idea to bring in Cam Newton as the Grand Answer to the quarterback conundrum. Because nothing screams “strategic genius” quite like unpredictable quarterback rotations.

Adding to the soap opera, Belichick and the Patriots eventually parted ways after 24 enduring seasons—cue the dramatic exit music. Belichick, the man who authored six Super Bowl titles with New England, finally decided it was time to retire his intimidating hoodie and bestow its villainous powers onto some unsuspecting successor.

Amidst the fireworks, Harris also mentions having the “privilege” of playing under both Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. Imagine that: two of football's most infamous perfectionists shaping your career. It's akin to being trained by Batman and Darth Vader—high standards, zero room for error, and perhaps a little force-choking for missed assignments.

The ongoing discussion brings us back to the core issue: adaptability. Mac Jones might have been the sophisticated android quarterback capable of navigating New England's offensive galaxy, but even he needed a guiding hand with a modern playbook. Josh McDaniels provided that. Bill Belichick, in all his glory, may have simply needed to update his firmware.

With Jones now in Jacksonville, only time will tell if he can reboot his career in sunnier climes. As for the Patriots, they'll be busy navigating their future without the Sith Lord of football. And the rest of us? We'll be eagerly awaiting the next episode of this epic gridiron soap opera.

[Sources: New York Post, Fox News]