Patriots' Mac Jones will face fine for low block on Bengals' Eli Apple: report
The Patriots fell to 7-8 on the year with the loss
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is reportedly facing a fine of over $11,000 for diving in front of Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple during Saturday’s game; a play he said is "just part of the game."
Jones will be fined $11,139 for tripping Apple as Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt recovered the Patriots’ fumble and attempted to run it back for a touchdown, sources told ProFootballTalk.
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, #10, warms up before the start of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Dec. 24, 2022. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Apple did not mince words about the play following the Bengals’ 22-18 win, calling it "dirty."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}BENGALS’ ELI APPLE CALLS OUT PATRIOTS’ MAC JONES FOR ‘DIRTY PLAY’: HE’S DONE THAT BEFORE’
"Of course I did (notice it). He tripped me," Apple said via NESN. "I thought it was a dirty play. He’s done that before, I’ve seen it."
Jones defended the play during his weekly radio appearance on WEEI, adding that he had "no intention" of hurting Apple.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I went down in front of him to kind of get in the way to stop him from slowing down Tyquan [Thornton], who obviously could make the tackle there. So just kind of went down in front of him, trying to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy. It's a split-second decision, and there's a lot that goes into it," he said Monday.
Vonn Bell, #24 of the Cincinnati Bengals, pressures Mac Jones, #10 of the New England Patriots, as he attempts a pass during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
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"You’re out there trying to compete, it’s a physical game. So just trying to help the team win. I have all the respect for Eli and the Bengals. They played a great game. So there’s no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Patriots playoff hopes are still alive despite this weekend’s loss, but the road ahead will not be an easy one.
Mac Jones, #10 of the New England Patriots, attempts a pass during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 24, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Nick Grace/Getty Images)
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New England will need a win this week over the Miami Dolphins, who have lost four straight, before closing out the regular season with a game against the 12-3 Buffalo Bills.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.