A True Leader
No malice in my heart toward him. I just want the best for him. – Jacoby Brissett
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo made NFL news this week by announcing a change in quarterbacks from veteran Jacoby Brissett to the team’s No. 3 overall pick in the draft, Drake Maye.
Drake Maye’s girlfriend shared her excitement on Instagram about him making his first career start for the @Patriots this week against the @HoustonTexans! 🏈🔥 #NEPats #NFL pic.twitter.com/w11W8oujUw
— LockerRoom RAW (@LockerRoom_RAW) October 9, 2024
Classy Veteran
Journeyman Jacoby Brissett never had a chance and he knew it. But the Patriots gave him eight million reasons to become a sacrificial lamb behind this abomination of an offensive line.
Brissett is a very average quarterback under ordinary circumstances and downright ineffective under poor conditions. However, he has two things going for him. He knows his limitations, which means he won’t hurt you with bonehead mistakes. Secondly, he’s a positive locker room presence and goes along to get along. It’s fair to say he’s a poor man’s version of Teddy Bridgewater, which was just fine by the Patriots.
Everyone knew his season’s edition was going nowhere, but they needed a supportive veteran looking to keep the seat warm until the heir apparent was ready to ascend the throne.
Jacoby Brissett on losing the starting job: “I’ve been through harder things in my life.” pic.twitter.com/685K1hlTXI
— Marlee Wierda (@marleewierda) October 10, 2024
And so, Brissett was removed from the starting role this week, but he took it with the grace one would expect of a man who never has a bad word to say about anything or anybody, and his answers to the media’s questions said all you need to know about the man.
Reporter: “You mentioned getting the news was tougher than words can describe. How are you?”
Jacoby Brissett: “I told somebody this the other day, ‘I’ve been through harder things in my life. I’m sure this won’t be the last time I go through something hard. So, I’ll be all right.’ Drake asked me how I’m doing and I’m like ‘Man, if you’re worried about me, you’re worried about the wrong thing right now.’ I can take care of myself. I obviously appreciated that, but I’ll be all right.”
Reporter: “What does that say about him?”
Brissett: “Great kid. Great kid. No malice in my heart toward him. I just want the best for him. I’m very excited for him.”
Question: You mentioned getting the news was tougher than words can describe. How are you?
Jacoby Brissett: “I told somebody this the other day, ‘I’ve been through harder things in my life. I’m sure this won’t be the last time I go through something hard. So I’ll be all right.’… pic.twitter.com/oZoLcI5lqd
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 10, 2024
Ushering in a New Era
The end came sooner than many anticipated, but Brissett endured a 42% pressure rate, the highest in the league because the men in front of him had been mastering the Matador style of protection. There are five human turnstiles on that line, and if anyone should lose their job, it should be the man upstairs in the big chair, GM Eliot Wolf, who constructed this hideous New England Patriots roster.
Drake Maye takes his first snap!pic.twitter.com/BAZ4HAcM8s
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 8, 2024
But it was Brissett who got whacked, and now Patriots fans are salivating at the prospect of the savior, Drake Maye, coming to the rescue and making it all better. The 22-year-old gunslinger will be the talk of the town now that he’s under center. Everything from Drake Maye’s stats to Drake Maye’s girlfriend will be fodder for the masses.
This is not a team built for success, and although Maye will give his receiving corps more opportunities than Brissett ever could, we should also be cognizant of the fact that if he takes a beating over these remaining dozen games, it could ruin him for the long term. All the talent in the world won’t mitigate a fragile state of mind. Panic passing becomes habit-forming and leads to bad mechanics and poor choices.
At the very least, Maye was able to watch the carnage from the sidelines over the first five weeks of the NFL schedule and form a game plan as to how he will attempt to overcome an anemic offensive line and an underwhelming corps of receivers. Hopefully, he stays upright, remains injury-free, and uses his rookie season to get acclimated to this next level of football.
As for Patriots fans, they’re elated. But as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.
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