Jerod Mayo lastly named the Patriots’ beginning quarterback after an offseason of combined messages.
The New England head coach informed reporters Thursday that Jacoby Brissett would be the starter Week 1. Mayo expressed confidence within the veteran signal-caller, although his alternative of phrases did elevate some questions.
Mayo’s announcement got here someday after he informed reporters the choice was made however wouldn’t be revealed publicly — the information was leaked Thursday simply earlier than Mayo’s information convention. It was a wierd manner to go in regards to the course of because it appeared like Brissett was the presumed starter.
Let’s check out a timeline of Mayo’s feedback in regards to the quarterback scenario between Brissett and Drake Maye beginning with coaching camp.
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July 23: I imply, popping out of the spring I do not assume there’s any doubt that Jacoby (Brissett) is the beginning quarterback at this time limit. We are able to take a look at these different quarterbacks on the roster, as a result of on the similar time, it is about competitors. After we get out on the sector this summer time, with the pads on, we’ll see the way it all performs out. I simply assume it is clear that Jacoby is probably the most pro-ready man we’ve got. He is performed quite a lot of soccer.
On Maye: The aim for Drake is to only get higher each day. It is not a straight line as much as the highest. There might be ups and downs, however in case you look left to proper you simply hope (for regular enchancment). If he comes out right here and takes full benefit and lights it up, he may very well be the Day 1 quarterback. However like I stated, popping out of the spring it is Jacoby.
It goes again to the identical phrase, and it is ‘competitors.’ It is not about everybody else. It is about, ‘Does this man go on the market and carry out higher than Jacoby?’ That is the way in which I see it.
July 30: I believe at that time, you need to go together with NFL expertise. It’s a must to go together with Jacoby in that occasion.
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Out right here on the sector, you may script all the pieces. You might have a managed setting, and once I speak about pro-ready, it is the off-schedule performs. It is with the ability to pull the nostril up on the aircraft because it’s happening. These are the issues that I take into consideration once I say, ‘pro-ready.’ It is the way in which they strategy the sport, and clearly Jacoby has expertise, however Drake is approaching the sport the best manner. We’ll should see.
That was how issues have been with the Patriots: Brissett was the No. 1 and Maye was behind him. Nonetheless, Mayo’s tune began to shift when preseason video games have been on the horizon.
Aug. 16: For me, we at all times speak about competitors and that is in any respect spots. So even when Drake beats out Jacoby, I imply, he earned that function. And we do not actually take that into consideration when he is able to go, and if he is higher than Jacoby, he’ll play. He’ll begin.
Aug. 19: We nonetheless do not know proper now. We’ve got one other preseason sport after which per week after that. Once I know, I am going to let you recognize.
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After the second preseason sport, momentum appeared to develop for Maye.
Aug. 21: 100%. I believe he is able to run a huddle. … (however) it is nonetheless a contest and Jacoby (Brissett) remains to be QB1.
Mayo then caught everybody’s consideration after the preseason finale.
Aug. 26: I want to sit right here and say 100%; he’s our second-best quarterback on our roster proper now.
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His look on the “Greg Hill Present”: I am not going to get too far down the highway on if Jacoby may play or could not play. What I’ll say is, it is a true competitors. It wasn’t fluff or something like that. It is a true competitors. And I might say at this present level, Drake has outplayed Jacoby. Now in saying that, we’ve got to soak up the complete physique of labor, going all the way in which again to the spring and starting of coaching camp. And we’ll see the place we find yourself.
One widespread factor we see right here is how a lot Mayo beloved to evangelise about “competitors.” That rhetoric may need been why followers held out hope that Maye could be the Week 1 starter over Brissett. Mayo appeared agency on the concept of Brissett being the first-choice quarterback all through the summer time, however issues began to get complicated because the preseason continued alongside.
However heading into Week 1, it looks like followers can maintain again on a quarterback controversy. No less than for now.
