Mac Jones keeps on racking up fines.
The Patriots starting quarterback got hit with two fines for a total of $23,976 because of separate instances of unnecessary roughness during New England’s 22-18 loss against the Bengals. Jones was previously fined for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Bills earlier in the month.
One fine from last Sunday occurred from Jones completing a questionable play by going on the ground in front of Cincinnati cornerback Eli Apple during a possible fumble return. Apple called the action “dirty,” but Jones said afterward he laid on the ground just in the hopes of blocking Apple’s path.
“Everybody has an opinion and the biggest thing for me is focusing on being the best teammate I can be and earning the respect of the people in this building and the people I care about,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday about being called a dirty player. “We’re all playing hard and trying to win.”
The quarterback was also fined for roughly attempting to recover Rhamondre Stevenson’s lost fumble in the game’s fourth quarter.
Jones has been frequently criticized for his in-game attitude throughout the season, with Patriots legends like Julian Edelman and Vince Wilfork ripping into the 24-year-old.
The quarterback’s team is 7-8 and currently in the hunt for the AFC’s final wild-card spot. New England plays a pivotal game against the Dolphins on Sunday.