Despite some protests from New England Patriots fans, rookie head coach Jerod Mayo has predictably chosen veteran Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback over rookie Drake Maye for the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
NFL analyst and former quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has experienced developing as a young backup, recently shared advice with Maye during conversations with ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Reflecting on his time with the Green Bay Packers in 1999, Hasselbeck recalled how then-quarterbacks coach Mike McCarthy pushed him mentally every day. “Before games, I would run the quarterback meeting, going over the game plan with Brett Favre to hold his attention and develop myself, since I wasn’t getting many reps during the week. I had to teach and explain plays like X Dagger Y Shallow Cross to Brett. That experience was invaluable,” Hasselbeck said.
While Maye outshined Brissett in preseason games, many analysts and reporters throughout August suggested that Mayo’s decision to start Brissett was wise. Jeff Howe of The Athletic noted that New England’s offensive line appeared to be a major concern, making Brissett the safer choice. Additionally, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated pointed out that Maye still needed to “grow into an NFL body,” particularly in areas like footwork.
Kurt Warner, who became a Hall of Famer after spending the 1998 season learning behind Trent Green, emphasized the importance of mental preparation. “When you’re in that position, you need to get as many mental reps as possible,” Warner told Reiss. “I constantly asked Trent why he made certain decisions, and I was fortunate that he was very open with me. I would watch him run plays and think about what I would have done.”
It’s uncertain when Mayo might turn to Maye, barring an injury to Brissett. The Patriots have a bye in Week 14, but they face the New York Jets in Week 3 on Thursday, Sept. 19, which could give Maye extra time to prepare for a potential start against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 on Sept. 29.
Jim Miller, a former Patriots backup quarterback and current SiriusXM NFL Radio host, advised Maye to prepare diligently. “The coaches will evaluate how much of the game plan he’s absorbing based on his practice performance. Eventually, they’ll see he’s ready, and they’ll put him in,” Miller said.
As of Monday, DraftKings Sportsbook set the Patriots’ odds at +160 to win over 5.5 games this season. If the Patriots struggle early, Mayo might face pressure to start Maye sooner than planned to keep the team engaged and avoid a lost season.
