The Patriots have released their 53-man roster and Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye and Joe Milton are three quarterbacks who have earned a spot for the right reasons. Among them, Maye was the one who was talked about the most, especially after his outstanding performance in the last preseason game against the Commanders. Even HC Jerod Mayo praised him, but ultimately he chose Brissett as the starter, which sparked all kinds of reactions.
However, former Pats running back James White defended Mayo’s decision during his appearance on the Money Down podcast. The three-time Super Bowl winner explained that it made perfect sense to draft Brissett instead of Maye, even if the latter outperformed the veteran.
“Mayo said… Drake Maye outperformed Jacoby Brissett but is still the second-best quarterback… people were like, ‘That doesn’t make sense’ – it makes perfect sense.”
He argued that in any sporting competition, the most talented player does not always emerge as the winner. A good competition alone can ensure a victory, so it is not always necessary to have the best player on the field.
“When there is a competition, the best player cannot win the competition. That’s just the nature of the sport. It doesn’t matter how talented you are, how good you are.”
Additionally, while Jacoby is currently the best candidate for the Patriots’ offense, that could change in the future if things go wrong, potentially paving the way for Maye to take over the starting position.
Additionally, if the offense isn’t working properly in the first few weeks of the season, adding a rookie QB to the team may be a wise decision.
Former #Patriots RB James White on Jerod Mayo’s comments on Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye:
“Mayo said… Drake Maye outperformed Jacoby Brissett but is still the second-best quarterback… people were like, ‘That doesn’t make sense’ – it makes perfect sense.
When… pic.twitter.com/pMhYvuWtkM
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) 28 August 2024
White and Mayo briefly shared a locker room during White’s eight years with the franchise, during which James won three Lombardi Trophies. While he didn’t start often or perform exceptionally well, he was there when it mattered most. Still, it’s not surprising that he supported his former teammate’s decision.
However, fans are eager to see Maye play as QB1, putting pressure on the head coach to put the third overall pick in the starting lineup. Despite the mounting doubts, Mayo remains committed to his decision to put Brissett in the starting lineup, and the veteran quarterback trusts his coach to stay true to his beliefs.
Brissett believes he will be the starter in Week 1
Brissett was outplayed by the rookie in limited action and then suffered a shoulder injury in the final preseason game, but he still believes he will start the season ahead of Maye.
In a telephone interview, he stated that he had not heard anything from the head coach or anyone else that would indicate that he would not be in the starting lineup.
“In my opinion, I’ll start with week 1. I haven’t heard anything else. That’s what I have to assume.”
However, there are numerous examples in the NFL of teams benching rookie quarterbacks in favor of experienced players to ensure better development. Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Love and others benefited from this approach, while CJ Stroud excelled in his debut season as a starter. Results may be different for everyone, but the Patriots, who are in the process of rebuilding, may prefer not to rush the process.
