What is going to QB Drake Maye's position appear like now for the Patriots?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Maye’s improvement: Invoice Parcells’ pithy responses to reporters’ questions had been loved by many in New England throughout his tenure as Patriots head coach from 1993-96. However it’s one thing Parcells stated throughout his last cease, as Cowboys head coach from 2003-2006, that’s well timed to revisit now that Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo introduced veteran Jacoby Brissett will begin at quarterback over rookie Drake Maye.

Parcells had stored undrafted free agent quarterback Tony Romo on the Dallas roster in 2003 and it later grew to become clear that Romo had potential to develop into one thing larger. At one level, Parcells was requested, “What do you need to lose placing Romo in there?”

To which he replied: “You might have the quarterback to lose if he is not prepared. That is one of many issues with younger quarterbacks that get picked with excessive expectations or get rushed into conditions that do not permit them to succeed.”

No state of affairs is identical, after all, however the Patriots are following Parcells’ blueprint with Maye — for now, a minimum of.

“There’s two methods to take a look at it. Clearly I need to play, the aggressive edge in me. On the identical time, I perceive the state of affairs. Jacoby has been within the offense and obtained reps with the 1s all camp … I really feel like I left all of it on the market. No regrets coming again.” – QB Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/WETP1EVuL4

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 29, 2024

Some steadfastly agree with it, Tom Brady amongst them. Others consider one of the simplest ways for younger quarterbacks to study is by enjoying immediately.

With the Patriots declaring their intentions, the query now’s what issues will appear like for Maye behind the scenes to organize him for every time the decision comes.

“I lived that life,” former ESPN analyst Matt Hasselbeck stated, referring to his 1999 season with the Packers. “Mike McCarthy was the quarterbacks coach and he wore me out mentally daily.

“The evening earlier than video games, I’d run the quarterback assembly and go over the sport plan with Brett Favre to carry Brett’s consideration and develop me in case I needed to play as a result of I wasn’t getting reps in the course of the week. It was ‘You are going to be the trainer right here. Rise up in entrance of the category and set up X Dagger Y Shallow Cross to Brett Favre.’ I am unable to say it sufficient how a lot that benefited me.”

Such an method has been a staple of the Packers’ tradition, which first-year Patriots government vp of personnel Eliot Wolf grew up watching as his father, Ron, was the group’s common supervisor within the Nineteen Nineties.

Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Kurt Warner, whose “QB Confidential” breakdown of Maye shares a few of his insights on his sport, had an identical expertise with the Rams in 1998 studying behind Trent Inexperienced.

“The largest factor you do while you’re in that place is you attempt to get as many psychological reps as you possibly can. For me, any time Trent did one thing within the offense, I used to be asking him ‘Why?’ I used to be lucky he was very open with me,” he stated. “I used to be watching by means of the play as Trent was working it, and saying ‘OK, that is what I’d have carried out.'”

In New England, Brissett and Maye have lockers subsequent to one another and have pledged to have an identical dynamic.

“He got here as much as me and stated, ‘No matter you want, I am right here for [you].’ And it is the identical factor for him — no matter he wants from me, I am going to do the identical,” Brissett defined.

Maye shared his perspective, saying: “I am right here to assist Jacoby and preserve the vibes within the quarterback room up. Nothing’s going to alter. I am nonetheless rooting for him. … Him being nearly 10 years within the NFL, me being in my first 12 months, it is a studying expertise. I grill him with questions.”

For Warner, working the scout-team offense additionally proved invaluable.

“I used to be competing and the gorgeous factor was I obtained to go towards our greatest protection each single day. It wasn’t arrange for us to succeed, you are really arrange for failure. That helped me hone my expertise,” he stated.

Former Patriots backup quarterback Jim Miller, who had a nine-year NFL profession, stated will probably be crucial for Maye to undertake a starter’s mentality, one thing Maye himself additionally referenced Thursday when he acknowledged he is “one snap away.” It may be laborious to do because the backup.

“The very best factor for him is to organize his fanny off and the coaches will have the ability to assess how a lot of the sport plan he’s absorbing. They are going to see that out on the sphere with how he practices — ‘All proper, he understands this idea, he understands this,'” Miller, now a bunch on Sirius XM NFL Radio, stated.

“Then I feel sooner or later within the season, the maths goes to dictate the younger man is able to go and ‘Let’s put him in there.’ The one factor that might put him within the lineup sooner is that if Jacoby Brissett turns over the soccer rather a lot. Coaches can deal with a rookie making these errors. They can not deal with a veteran making an entire bunch of turnovers.”

Hasselbeck’s perception is that the best-case situation for Maye is the Patriots successful video games whereas growing him behind the scenes.

“But when I am Drake Maye, I am planning on enjoying proper now. The chances are that your starter does get harm and you are going to must go,” he stated. “And when you go, you are in all probability by no means popping out.”

2. Onwenu’s gesture: Offensive lineman Mike Onwenu, who signed a three-year, $57 million contract within the offseason, fulfilled a longtime dream by buying a brand new dwelling for his mother and father and three siblings in Michigan.

“All of us grew up underneath one another, and because the final born, I used to be the final one within the dwelling,” he defined. “That was the one factor I wished to do [after the contract].”

As for his fifth 12 months with the group, Onwenu acknowledged that he wasn’t current for the primary few weeks of the voluntary offseason program within the spring due to private causes, and that he may have began coaching camp off stronger.

“I feel I got here in at an OK spot. I in all probability did not do as a lot as I wished to all through the summer season, however I am not ashamed of how I got here in or something like that. I nonetheless felt like I may do what I do,” he stated.

“I settled down per week earlier than. I used to be going to be doing loads of working. After I got here in, I used to be off for possibly 4 days, however as soon as I obtained going and hit the bottom working, it was good. So I feel I may have carried out a pair issues higher, nevertheless it’s an extended 12 months.”

3. OL focused: The Patriots had been awarded offensive deal with Demontrey Jacobs (Broncos), guard Zach Thomas (Rams), defensive deal with Eric Johnson II (Colts) and linebacker Curtis Jacobs (Chiefs) on waivers final week. To guard themselves in case the 2 groups forward of them within the waiver precedence claimed these gamers, the Patriots additionally put in “backup” claims on three different offensive linemen and one defensive lineman, per league sources. It’s a reflection of how the entrance workplace seen the offensive line and defensive position as the highest priorities popping out of coaching camp — which appeared apparent.

4. Waiver wire chatter: The Patriots weren’t the one group to place in waiver claims on Jacobs and Johnson, with the Cardinals making an attempt to assert Jacobs and the Bengals placing in a declare on Johnson, based on league sources. Having the No. 3 precedence on the wire — primarily based on final season’s 4-13 file — proved advantageous to the group. The Broncos had been additionally planning on signing Jacobs to their observe squad if he cleared waivers.

5. Lining it up: After three days off, as mandated by the collective bargaining settlement, the Patriots are scheduled to return to observe Monday and the well being of the offensive line will likely be a high storyline. Beginning left deal with Vederian Lowe (indirect) has been out since Aug. 21, whereas beginning left guard Sidy Sow (ankle) has been sidelined for the reason that preseason finale Aug. 25. Chukwuma Okorafor has been at left deal with and free agent signee Nick Leverett at left guard, additional testing the group’s depth.

“I feel it could be naive for us to say going to that first sport — the place actually nobody has performed 4 quarters of soccer — to suppose that guys will not must rotate in there at occasions,” Mayo stated.

6. Mayo and Mazzulla: Mayo first met Joe Mazzulla when the latter was serving as a Boston Celtics assistant coach and the 2 have stayed in contact since. Their connection has grown, which was evidenced when Mazzulla attended the group’s Wednesday observe and held a observe script in his arms. Mayo stated he appreciates their conversations about Xs and Os and tips on how to handle folks, calling Mazzulla — who gained a championship in his second 12 months as Celtics head coach — an incredible useful resource.

7. They stated it: “I’ve by no means been in a sport of proving folks flawed. I simply need to show myself proper. I really like the locker room, I really like the group and I am such a fan of this sport. I hope when folks watch me play, they are saying, ‘This dude actually loves what he does.’ I feel after I do not love that, I am going to know will probably be my time.” — Brissett, reflecting on his nine-year NFL profession (read more here)

8. AVP & JBJ: Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt retains a guitar in his workplace, and he informed the gang on the Patriots Premiere on Wednesday evening that one of many unforgettable moments he has skilled since arriving was when Jon Bon Jovi, who was visiting the group as a visitor of proprietor Robert Kraft, knocked on his workplace door. He did what most music followers would do in that second — he handed the guitar to Bon Jovi, considered one of his favourite musicians, who signed it for him.

9. Scouting Hunter: There have been 31 scouts and entrance workplace personnel readily available Thursday evening for Colorado’s 31-26 win over North Dakota State, representing 18 completely different groups, and the Patriots had been considered one of them, based on the college. Given the group’s ongoing quest for a No. 1 receiver, it is likely to be a preview of how thorough the Patriots will likely be of their analysis of Colorado dynamic cross catcher Travis Hunter, who’s the No. 9 prospect in ESPN analyst Area Yates’ rankings.

10. Do you know?: Of the 28 new gamers on the Patriots’ 53-man roster, 10 are rookies. That features all eight of the 2024 draft picks, rookie free agent security Dell Pettus and linebacker Curtis Jacobs, who was claimed on waivers.