The New England Patriots have made their decision. They will enter the 2024 season with the veteran Jacoby Brissett at quarterback.
While the decision was expected, most Patriots fans were hoping that rookie Drake Maye would win the starting job.
Besides being the hopeful franchise quarterback of the future, Maye outplayed Brissett throughout training camp and took several notable steps forward in his development.
With Bill Belichick long gone, the Patriots are entering unchartered territory of sorts.
After all, not even the most optimistic New Englander is expecting much of anything out of the Pats this season. Most everyone recognizes this will be a rebuilding year and the hope is that a strong foundation can be laid for the future.
While there will surely be several long Sunday afternoons for Patriots fans, seeing Maye on the field would at least provide a spark of intrigue and excitement for the long-suffering fan base. (Sarcasm.)
However, not everyone thinks it’s a bad idea for Maye to ride the bench and patiently wait his turn.
Patriots legend Tom Brady recently discussed how he is a believer in the old-school way of developing quarterbacks rather than throwing them directly into the fire early on.
“I think it’s just a tragedy that we’re forcing these rookies to play early,” Brady said on The Stephen A. Smith show.
Brady explained that the reason this is happening is due to the simplification of the game, which allows younger players to step in before they are fully prepared.
“We used to spend hours and hours in the offseason, in training camp, trying to be a little bit better the next year. But I think what happens is it discourages the coaches from going to deep levels,” he said. “They realize the players don’t have the opportunity to go to a deep level. So they’re just going to teach them where they’re at.”
Brady’s point centers around the idea that the NFL has shifted away from developing quarterbacks over time, instead opting to throw them into starting roles sooner than they might be ready.
This, according to Brady, could hinder their long-term development.
Maye, for his part, has publicly taken Jerod Mayo’s decision in stride, though he admits he’s eager to play.
“There’s two ways to look at it,” Maye said. “Obviously, I want to play – the competitive edge in me. At the same time, I understand the situation. Jacoby has been in the offense and got reps with the ones all camp. I feel like I left it all out there. No regrets coming back.”
Brady, who spent his college years at Michigan, elaborated on why he believes modern rookie quarterbacks are at a disadvantage compared to his era.
“There used to be college programs,” Brady said. “Now, there are college teams. You’re no longer learning a program, you’re learning a playbook.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Brady explained how his time in college was crucial for his development.
“For five years, I got to learn how to drop back pass, to read defenses, to read coverages, to be coached. To deal with winning games, to deal with playing in Columbus, Ohio, in front of 110,000 people.
“I had to learn from being seventh QB on the depth chart to moving up to third to ultimately being a starter. I had to learn all those things in college, that was development.”
While Brady’s experience is unique and unlikely to be replicated, his concerns about the fast-tracking of rookie quarterbacks resonate with the broader discussion about how best to prepare young players for the demands of the NFL.
Do you think Mayo and the Patriots made a mistake not going with Maye off the bat? … Or do you agree with Brady that the right approach is being taken?
In the bigger picture, at what point do you think we see Maye take over for good? … Will it be at some point this season – or next???