If you’re an NFL head coach, there are particular issues you’ll be able to’t say in a media setting.
New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is in a tricky spot. Whereas everybody understands the Patriots aren’t beginning third general choose Drake Maye as a result of New England‘s offensive line and receivers aren’t ok to assist him, that is not one thing you say out loud. Maye’s improvement is the important thing issue. The franchise would not wish to destroy its gifted rookie quarterback.
However Mayo made a little bit of a mistake as he tried to bounce round that matter. He is a rookie too, in any case. He mentioned that Maye had outplayed Jacoby Brissett, however then a pair days later Brissett acquired the beginning nod. You do not typically see a coach say his starter acquired outplayed by the backup.
Mayo tried to stroll that again throughout a Tuesday morning look on WEEI.
Jerod Mayo explains determination
Mayo mentioned he did not totally clarify saying Maye outplayed Brissett within the preseason.
“I ought to have given extra context to the remark on the time,” Mayo mentioned, by way of Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. “Drake had extra enjoying time within the preseason than Jacoby, and that was intentional.”
That does not make a lot sense both. Maye had an 86.9 passer score. Brissett was all the best way down at a horrific 14.6. A disparity in enjoying time would not clarify all of that. Extra reps might need helped Brissett dig out of that gap, however anybody who noticed the video games understands Maye outplayed Brissett. There have been different elements concerned in selecting Brissett to begin Week 1.
It is simply laborious to clarify these causes with out disrespecting the locker room.
“There are a variety of elements that led to this alternative,” Mayo mentioned final week, by way of MassLive. “I feel the laborious half is pondering within the quick time period and the long run on the similar time. As a corporation, although, we really feel like Jacoby offers us our greatest likelihood to win proper now.”
Will Drake Maye play?
One factor that can should be answered is whether or not Maye will play in any respect this season. If the Patriots are shedding video games, there will likely be a variety of strain to make a quarterback change.
Mayo did not straight reply that, however he did say this would possibly not be a redshirt season for Maye. He was requested if Maye would play if Brissett was injured, and the reply was a really clear sure.
“Once we speak about creating a man like Drake Maye, that may be a steady course of,” Mayo mentioned, by way of the Boston Herald. “If Jacoby was to get injured within the first week, 1,000% Drake (Maye) could be the following man in because the No. 2 quarterback on our roster.”
That is an necessary reply. Meaning New England is just not dedicated to sitting Maye all season. Brissett might preserve Maye on the bench all season by enjoying nicely, but when he falters, then the Patriots apparently aren’t towards enjoying Maye quite than bypassing him for somebody like fellow rookie Joe Milton III.
This can be a story that will not go away as soon as the video games begin. In reality, if Brissett struggles and the Patriots lose video games, it will likely be the one story price monitoring throughout New England’s season. In that case, Mayo’s clarification for why Maye is taking the beginning job could be lots simpler.
