Rising up as a New York Jets fan, I had to deal with the fact that Tom Brady owned my crew and the AFC East at massive for many years.
So that you’ll forgive me if I take pleasure in just a little schadenfreude over the truth that it’s Aug. 17, and the New England Patriots can’t say who shall be their beginning quarterback for the regular-season opener at Cincinnati in three weeks.
It’s an entire new period in Foxborough.
The Patriots aren’t solely 5 years faraway from Brady’s last snap as their quarterback however now march on with out Invoice Belichick pulling all of the strings. Jerod Mayo received to begin recent after the Patriots shipped away former first-round decide Mac Jones.
Mayo made the protected resolution to open camp, saying that Jacoby Brissett was their beginning quarterback as a result of he was essentially the most “pro-ready” man within the room. Drake Maye, the third total draft decide, is slowly beginning to overtake him. On Friday, after the Pats’ second preseason sport, Mayo mentioned the competitors “undoubtedly isn’t over.”
Is New England going to attend for Week 7 or 9 handy the rookie the reins? The 2 guys taken in entrance of Maye, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, are the no-doubt starters for Chicago and Washington. Maye ought to be part of them and begin Week 1.
It isn’t essentially the most awkward quarterback circumstance within the NFL this yr; the Atlanta Falcons did that to themselves by paying Kirk Cousins truckloads of cash, then ticking him off by choosing Michael Penix Jr. eighth total. However Brissett signed a one-year, $8 million deal to return to the crew that drafted him in 2016, and he’s standing in the way in which of the Patriots getting a head begin on their future.
I’ve at all times been a quiet fan of Brissett. The dude has been thrust into some odd conditions earlier than, particularly in 2019, when Andrew Luck retired weeks earlier than the season and Brissett did a nice job because the Indianapolis Colts’ sudden starter all yr. Then there was 2022, when he led the Cleveland Browns for 11 video games earlier than Deshaun Watson completed out his suspension.
Brissett’s now 31 happening 32, and if preseason outcomes imply something to you, he hasn’t lit the world on fireplace. One three-and-out within the opener earlier than Maye entered the sport. Seventeen yards and an finish zone interception in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday.
Maye has proven regular enchancment, in Mayo’s eyes, with a dashing landing to go together with 6-of-11 passing in restricted motion Thursday.
“A few of the issues that occurred the final couple of weeks was simply stepping up into strain. I assumed he did a greater job total with utilizing his legs and actually extending performs,” Mayo mentioned.
“… He must be quicker, get the blokes out and in of the huddle quicker, get to the road, and simply be on level. That’s one thing for him to work on, and he’s. We’ve got three extra days of camp, and that’s going to be my emphasis for him.”
Feels like a man who plans to attend till the final attainable minute to disclose his name for Week 1. Belichick could be proud!
The Patriots—and once more, as a Jets man, I take immense enjoyment of saying this—aren’t going to be aggressive this season, whatever the QB resolution. They simply traded away malcontent cross rusher Matthew Judon. The roster isn’t one Brandon Aiyuk away from beating the Payments, Dolphins and Jets for the AFC East, they usually moved on from courting Aiyuk after one commerce provide to the 49ers didn’t work out. So get Maye underneath middle, get him sport reps as rapidly as attainable, and begin establishing your future.
Or Mayo might at all times get his outdated teammate Brady on the cellphone. Feels like he thinks he might nonetheless sling the pigskin round.