This is an opinion cartoon.
Now that Mac Jones, New England’s 15th pick in the first round, has impressively won over Bill Belichick’s heart, mind, hoodie and starting job over Cam Newton, Alabama’s three consecutive Heisman finalist QBs are now scheduled to start in the NFL season opener: Jones against Miami and Tua Tagovailoa in New England. Hurts with Philadelphia against the Falcons in Atlanta.
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Related: Tribute to Nick Saban’s greatest draft team
Remember in 2018 when Jones was just a skinny kid with a goofy smile waiting his turn behind Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa in Alabama’s QB room? Why did he even bother to come to Alabama? Turns out, this game film geek was competitive as a hungry wolf and as patient as Job. He was in it to wait it out, learn it and win it.
I love all these guys. Jalen Hurts set the example and the work ethic, in good times and bad. (The word ‘bad’ is a word used on those unfortunate occasions when Alabama doesn’t win a national championship.) Hurts was always the total Team First guy. He owned the weight room workouts. Tua was the lefty flash dance Second and 26 Miracle Man with his fellow freshman National Championship connection, DeVonta Smith. Tua was and is an engaging personality with nothing but love for all his teammates.
Related: What Nick Saban said about three Alabama quarterbacks starting in the NFL
Mac Jones was the little brother in the weeds - studying, learning, watching, waiting - and growing like a weed. Nobody noticed. Until he led Alabama to an undefeated national championship season while setting all kinds of records. His 77.4 % completion rate tops the list, and his NCAA passer efficiency rate of 203.06 bests the 201.96 record of LSU’s Joe Burrow set the year before.
There are great stories to be told about the dynamic between these three Alabama legends. Al.com’s John Talty was on top of it earlier this year:
John Talty: Step inside stacked Alabama QB room that propelled Mac Jones to greatness
Bryce Young, you’re up. No pressure.
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JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com and 2020 RFK Human Rights Award winner for Editorial Cartoons. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix.
