During the NFL’s annual meeting in Phoenix last month, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked if Mac Jones had a firm hold on the quarterback job or would compete with backup Bailey Zappe for the starting spot.

“Everybody’ll get a chance to play,” Belichick said on March 27. “We’ll play the best players.”

If he gets that opportunity, Zappe said on Wednesday, he plans to be ready for it.

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“If my opportunity presents itself, like I’ve been saying, I’m going to take full advantage of it,” Zappe said. “I’m going to do everything I can to help the team win. That’s really all I can say from that standpoint. That’s coach Belichick’s decision, whatever he decides.

“But if the opportunity presents itself, I’m going to be ready and take advantage of it.”

Zappe spoke with Joe Kayata of WJAR-TV in Providence while at a football camp for children of military members at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island.

A former Alabama All-American, Jones started every game as New England posted a 10-7 record and went to the postseason as a wild-card qualifier in his rookie season in 2021. In 2022, the Patriots went 8-9, with a 6-8 mark in games started by Jones, who missed three games because of an ankle injury.

As a rookie, Jones went to the Pro Bowl as he completed 352-of-521 passes for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In his second season, Jones completed 288-of-442 passes for 2,997 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

A fourth-round rookie, Zappe played in four games, with two starts, in 2022. He got to play when Brian Hoyer sustained a concussion in the first game missed by Jones.

Zappe completed 65-of-92 passes for 781 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in 2022, and the Patriots won the two games that he started. He had a passing-efficiency rating of 100.9 while Jones posted an 84.8 showing.

RELATED: WHAT’S GOING ON WITH QB MAC JONES AND THE PATRIOTS?

New England dropped from sixth in the NFL in scoring in 2021 to 17th in 2022 after the departure of Josh McDaniels, who left his post as the Patriots offensive coordinator to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach last offseason.

For the 2022 season, former Patriots special-teams coordinator, Alabama assistant coach and New York Giants head coach Joe Judge served as offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach, and former New England defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia called the plays, although his titles were senior football advisor and offensive-line coach.

For the 2023 season, the Patriots have a titled offensive coordinator with Bill O’Brien coming aboard from Alabama.

“I’m really excited just to learn with all the knowledge he has for the quarterback position,” Zappe said. “And not just the position itself, but from a defensive standpoint, as well, how he sees the defense. I’m really excited about this year with some of the new guys we got on the team as well, and just ready to get after it.”

New England is scheduled to start its offseason program on Monday.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.