Patriots choose Brissett to begin at QB over Maye

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has chosen Jacoby Brissett because the group’s beginning quarterback because the veteran held off a late surge from rookie Drake Maye, the No. 3 choose within the draft.

“We’ve got determined, or I’ve determined, that Jacoby Brissett will likely be our beginning quarterback this season,” Mayo stated Thursday. “In saying that, as a corporation, we’re 100% behind Jacoby. There isn’t a ‘You bought a man proper right here, you bought a man proper there.’ We’re 100% behind Jacoby.”

Brissett spent all spring and coaching camp because the starter, however the dynamic of the competitors shifted over the previous two weeks. Mayo beforehand stated that when Maye grew to become much less deferential, the hole between the quarterbacks closed to the purpose the place Maye was taking part in higher than Brissett in that time-frame.

On the similar time, Brissett’s expertise within the group’s system, together with the totality of his work going again to the spring, was weighed within the decision-making course of.

Requested whether or not the choice signifies that Maye would sit for an prolonged time frame, Mayo stated: “I do not need to get into hypotheticals. We will not go into the season saying, ‘He will go “x” quantity of weeks.’ So long as Jacoby goes on the market performing the best way all of us believe in him doing, he’ll be our quarterback this season.”

Mayo stated he spoke with each quarterbacks individually and as a gaggle.

“I really feel like we’re all on the identical web page from an organizational perspective,” Mayo stated. “There have been lots of components that led to this selection. I believe the exhausting half is pondering within the brief time period and the long run on the similar time. As a corporation, although, we really feel like Jacoby provides us the very best likelihood to win proper now.”

Mayo beforehand stated that the ultimate choice on the starter was his however that it got here after normal conversations with new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Brissett’s expertise has been cited by coaches as crucial. He has 48 profession begins and, in 2022 with the Cleveland Browns, performed in the same offense to what the Patriots have carried out beneath Van Pelt, a former Browns coordinator.

Van Pelt hinted that Brissett could be the starter late final week, noting that Maye had been “spectacular” however “there’s nonetheless a strategy of the way you deliver a rookie quarterback alongside.” Van Pelt additionally famous the group’s developmental plan for Maye.

“There’s sure issues on this offense that Jacoby, having performed in it, understands a few of the instruments you need to use to get out of sure conditions, stress conditions,” Van Pelt stated. “Issues like that that Drake remains to be studying. He’s pushing.”

Brissett began all three of the Patriots’ preseason video games, taking part in 27 complete snaps and ending 5-of-14 for 36 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception.

Maye adopted up Brissett in all three video games, taking part in 66 snaps and going 21-of-34 for 192 yards with one landing and 0 interceptions. He added seven rushes for 32 yards and one landing.