Bailey Zappe got a lot of playing time in the New England Patriots’ season opener against the Carolina Panthers. A little too much playing time if you ask Rob Gronkowski.
When Zappe stepped onto the field at Gillette Stadium with about five minutes left in the first quarter, he was greeted by a chorus of boos. That was nothing against Zappe, of course. But New England fans wanted to see more of Drake Maye, the third-overall draft pick of the season who played just one series. Zappe threw for 108 yards before leaving the game with four minutes left in the third quarter.
Joe Milton III, the team’s sixth-round pick from Tennessee, finished the game. And Milton was impressive.
READ: The Joe Milton Show overshadows Drake Mayes’ debut in the Patriots’ season opener
But fear not, Patriots fans! Head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters this week that there is a plan for Maye and that the rookie may get more playing time next week against the Philadelphia Eagles.
But Gronkowski said both Maye and Milton need more preseason practice, and there’s an easy way to do that.
“My strong opinion is that Bailey Zappe must be released,” Gronk said on FS1’s First things first on Friday. “They either have to let him go or trade him because he’s taking playing time away from Drake Maye. He’s taking playing time away from Joe Milton. And Bailey Zappe isn’t going to be on this team at the end of training camp. And Bailey Zappe needs to be released so he can go to another team and show what he can do.”
Zappe and Milton have been battling for the third quarterback job during training camp, behind Maye and the experienced Jacoby Brissett, and with his performance against Carolina on Thursday, Milton certainly has a good chance of earning that spot on the roster.
