In a bold move this summer, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo shook things up by choosing journeyman Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback over the team’s top draft pick, Drake Maye, for the beginning of the 2024 season. This decision marked Mayo’s first big call as the organization’s decision-maker, sparking controversy among fans and pundits alike.
The choice to go with Brissett over Maye raised eyebrows, especially after Mayo praised Maye’s strong preseason performance. After the Patriots’ final preseason game against the Washington Commanders, Mayo even went as far as labeling Maye as the second-best quarterback on the roster. However, days later, in a radio interview, Mayo claimed that the rookie had “outplayed” the veteran in the snaps they saw in August before ultimately naming Brissett as the starting quarterback.
The sequence of events left many scratching their heads, leading to Mayo having to explain his comments to the press. During an interview on The Greg Hill Show, Mayo clarified his statement, saying, “I should have given more context to the comment at the time. Drake had more playing time in the preseason than Jacoby, and that was intentional.” It turns out that when Mayo said Maye outplayed Brissett, he meant in terms of the number of snaps, not necessarily performance.
Despite the confusion, Mayo’s handling of the situation showcases his learning curve as a rookie head coach in the NFL. The media scrutiny and public back-and-forth are all part of the game, and Mayo is quickly learning how to navigate these waters. This contrasts starkly with his predecessor, providing a new and intriguing dynamic for Patriots reporters and fans to follow throughout the season.
