FOXBORO, Mass. — Jacoby Brissett referred to it because the “elephant within the room.”
However for New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, the incumbent in a room filled with newcomers, the group’s quarterback makeover is simply a part of competitors.
“I’ve been having enjoyable, y’all,” Zappe mentioned at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday after New England’s fourth OTA session.
The veteran Brissett has taken first-team reps in aggressive intervals so far. Zappe has taken the second-string reps with Drake Maye, the third total choose within the 2024 NFL Draft, taking snaps with the threes and fellow rookie Joe Milton III behind Maye.
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“They carry in guys yearly, clearly,” Zappe mentioned. “They need all people to compete, and that’s what they’ve been telling us this whole time: All people’s going to get a possibility, all people’s going to compete. And similar to Mayo mentioned, it will depend on what you do with that chance.”
Zappe known as the quarterback room a “tight-knit group” regardless of the actual fact its solely been collectively a number of weeks. And when requested if he sensed the “awkwardness” Mayo pointed to, Zappe mentioned he hasn’t for the reason that group received acquainted with each other.
“When you get to know one another, you perceive that everyone has the identical widespread aim and that’s to win video games,” Zappe mentioned. “Clearly, all of us wish to exit. All of us wish to be the starter. However there’s just one man that may go on the market and all of us that aren’t on the market want to assist that man it doesn’t matter what.”
Zappe reaffirmed his present mindset is to compete for the beginning job. That’s what he’s been informed to do at this level, he mentioned, regardless of the actual fact Brissett feels just like the short-term starter and Maye the apparent long-term reply.
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“They’ve informed all of us that there’s going to be a contest,” Zappe mentioned. “All people’s going to have a possibility to go on the market and show that they are often that man. All 4 of us are going to do our greatest to try this, after which whoever will get that job, the opposite three of us are going to assist that man do no matter he can on the sector to win video games.”
Mayo indicated the Patriots would pare down the quarterback group from 4 to 3 forward of coaching camp. That probably means Zappe and Milton, who was absent on Day 4 at Gillette Stadium, have two extra weeks to show they’re deserving of the third quarterback spot.
