At the start of training camp, Jerod Mayo left no doubt that Jacoby Brissett would be the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback. Four weeks later, the team’s head coach has a different story to tell: the competition for the top job is in full swing.
While Brissett has been the first man in practice and preseason training all summer, first-round rookie Drake Maye has been earning strong opportunities of his own. The third overall pick in this year’s draft has started to pile up positive days and get more playing time with the top talent on the offensive side of the ball.
While Maye currently appears to be behind Brissett in the rankings, the pressure on the veteran seems to be mounting. However, the 31-year-old himself is not worried about this; he is primarily focused on himself.
“Every day I come here, I try to do my best. Whether it was Day 1 or Day 39, I always go out there and try to do my best,” Brissett told reporters after Monday’s 17th practice. “I’m not too worried about the competition, I’m more worried about myself and being a good teammate.”
Brissett, a third-round pick of the Patriots in the 2016 NFL Draft, rejoined the club early in the offseason to revamp the quarterback roster. The team later drafted Maye on the first day of the draft and Joe Milton in the sixth round.
The four of them, along with Bailey Zappe, shared quarterback duties this summer. In fact, Brissett and Maye were always ahead of Milton and Zappe in the pecking order.
So the race for the starting spot is now down to these two men. For now, Brissett is still preparing as if the job were his own.
“I still treat myself like I’m the starter,” he said.
“I just go out there and do my job. I’ve been in this league long enough. A lot of crazy things have happened in my career so far and nothing would shock me. But at the same time, I’m enjoying this process, doing my best and letting things go as they go.”
