The New England Patriots face a quarterback dilemma ahead of their final preseason game and it will be up to head coach Jerod Mayo and his staff to make the right decision.
Mayo changed his mind about the quarterback room on Monday when he noted that he has not named a starting quarterback. The change of tone came after Drake Maye made progress in his second preseason game while Jacoby Brissett looked shaky in front of a weak offensive line.
Bill Parcells is no stranger to dealing with questionable quarterback rooms and the expectations of Robert Kraft and Patriots fans. The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy tracked down the former New England head coach this month and noted that fans always want to see something new, “especially when you’re losing games.” Although Shaughnessy didn’t specifically mention the Maye/Brissett situation, fans should take note of Parcells’ caution toward young playmakers.
“The fans never consider the psychological state of the player you’re about to throw to the wolves,” Parcells told Shaughnessy. “What you really have to judge is the timing and the chance of success. Sometimes it destroys them when they don’t succeed.”
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“So I think you just have to see what you’re dealing with personally. What kind of temperament does he seem to have? How does he react to negative game situations or tough coaching?
“The fans will say, ‘If he doesn’t make it, we don’t want him anyway,’ but when it’s a high-level draft choice, you have to do everything in your power to give him a chance to succeed. Economically speaking, it’s not in your best interest these days if he doesn’t succeed. It’s bad if you have high expenses and don’t produce.”
Parcells selected Drew Bledsoe first in the 1993 NFL Draft and he started right away. Scott Secules wasn’t a much better alternative, so Parcells took his time with Phil Simms and Tony Romo.
Parcells has coached Brissett since he was 15 at high school in West Palm Beach, but the two-time Super Bowl winner acknowledged that he is not taking sides and is simply looking at things from a distance.
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“I have no advice for New England fans,” Parcells said. “I’m too smart to give them advice.”
Patriots fans will have to wait and see how the final preseason game against the Washington Commanders turns out on Thursday at Commanders Field.
