Mayo disheartens fans by naming Brissett as the opening day starting QB

Jerod Mayo announced on Thursday that Jacoby Brissett will be “our starting quarterback this season.” Interesting wording. It was also notable how Mayo began by saying “we” have decided before, quickly, correcting himself to say “I" have decided.

The decision has disappointed many fans who want to see rookie Drake Maye play now. Maye closed the gap between him and Brissett throughout camp and many believe he passed Jacoby in the last two weeks. It is a testament to Maye's intellect, work ethic, and talent that he has progressed so quickly.

There was a lot of criticism when Maye got drafted about his footwork, decision making, inconsistent performance, and inaccuracy. New England's new coaching hierarchy had expressed concerns about Maye adapting to the NFL and learning a new system.

I had to laugh when I kept hearing coaches saying Maye had to work on getting the team in and out of huddles and calling plays. Seriously? How fundamental do you have to get? That sounds like something a pee wee coach would say about his quarterback.

Now the offensive line is a different story. They can be compared to a pee wee league team. They still can't do something as fundamental as lining up, properly, on the line of scrimmage. I am looking at you offensive line coach, Scott Peters. But, that is another issue – yet it isn't because it may factor into why Maye might not be playing from the start.

Evan Lazar made a statement on a Patriots Unfiltered podcast that I, literally, responded out loud by saying, “Genius. Nailed it!” Lazar said that this:

Drake Maye is ready, but the Patriots aren't.

Spot on!

It is obvious that Maye has progressed much quicker than the coaching staff anticipated. Mayo referenced that they had a plan for Maye’s development and they were sticking to it. The plan began with bringing in Jacoby Brissett, a veteran who has played for Alex Van Pelt before and knows his system. 

I am sure the Patriots' brass also established a timetable for when to consider starting Maye – and it appears that they will not start him anytime before that. All the talk about an open competition in camp was a sham, and a shame.

Hopefully, the plan is not to sit Maye his entire first season. Mayo’s wording that Brissett is “our starting quarterback this season” is troubling. The media, at his press conference, picked up on the wording right away and asked Mayo if that meant, barring injury, the plan is to redshirt Maye for his entire first year.

Mayo responded that he is “not going to get into hypotheticals” and that the organization is “100% behind Brissette.” As long as Brissett performs the way the organization expects him to, he will remain the starting quarterback all season.

The thing is Brissett has not performed well in the closing weeks of camp. He hasn't been playing up to expectations – highlighted by a red zone interception he threw that was returned for a touchdown.

It is obvious Maye is the better quarterback right now. Mayo said that he believes Brissett gives the team the best chance of winning right now. He is wrong, and he knows it.

The fact is that winning is not the main goal this year. What is the difference if the Patriots win four games like many expect or, best case scenario, they win seven or eight? The Patriots won’t be making the playoffs. If you don’t make the playoffs, you are better off having a worse record and getting a higher draft pick in order to draft that franchise left tackle this team so desperately needs.

Like Lazar said – Maye is ready right now. He is the better quarterback right now. He, not Brissett, gives New England the best chance to win. The other players play better, and more inspired, when Maye is on the field.

The Patriots’ organization is not prepared, however, for Maye to take over. They worry the lack of any semblance of an NFL-caliber offensive line to protect their franchise quarterback could negatively impact Maye’s development. Call it a Mac Jones hangover. The Patriots’ front office has PTSD. They are thinking and making decisions scared. In life, aggressiveness is rewarded, passivity is not.

Every other healthy quarterback drafted in the first round last year will be starting for their teams on Week One. It is no surprise Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, the top two overall picks, will be starting. Michael Penix won't be starting for Atlanta because he is playing behind a quarterback who just signed a $180 million contract, so I don't count him. Brissett signed for $8 million (a mere 4.44% of Kirk Cousins' contract). JJ McCarthy was on pace to start for Minnesota before suffering a season-ending injury.

Even the much maligned Bo Nix will be starting for Denver. People scoffed when the Broncos picked Nix with the 12th overall pick. Many viewed him as a second round pick, but he will be starting under the tutelage of offensive guru Sean Payton. Payton isn’t worried about Denver’s offensive line. Denver very easily could have chosen to go with veteran backup Jarrod Stidham – basically their version of Jacoby Brissett. Stidham and, to a lesser extent, Zach Wilson were brought in to be a bridge quarterback. After watching Nix in the preseason, Payton sees no need for a bridge. He is going to allow Nix to learn on the fly, by getting reps during NFL games, 

That is an aggressive philosophy. It is high risk, but high reward.

Which is not to say I hate Mayo’s decision. As a fan, I want a reason to watch the Patriots play the first few games this year. I want to be sitting with my friends in anticipation of what Maye might do on the next play. Will he run for 30 yards? Will he escape the rush and throw a no-look pass to a receiver? Will he throw a perfect 60-yard spiral down the middle of the field? Will he complete a pass while only wearing one shoe?

With Jacoby, it is going to be 3rd-and-7 almost every possession. It is going to be dink and dunk. One penalty (and it is bound to happen) will kill every drive because of the lack of big play capability from Brissett.

I can sort of understand Mayo saying that he can’t let the team know that Brissett is the starting quarterback for only a set amount of games. It would diminish Brissett’s credibility with his teammates. That is why Mayo says Brissett is the starter “for the season.” But the players aren't fools.

Could Mayo, simply, say that  the starting position is a week-to-week evaluation just like any other position on the team? I don’t see why not. It should be the truth. Tyquan Thornton shouldn’t be the starting wide receiver just because he is the veteran of the group, but he is expected to start. Which is also wrong. Give me Polk and Baker from the opening snap.

Wouldn’t it be cool to see Maye, Polk, and Baker begin harvesting their chemistry right away? Instead, we will be watching Brissett throwing pick-sixes because he and Thornton miscommunicate on a route.

I am, maybe, willing to wait four or five weeks maximum, but Maye better be starting by mid-October when New England plays Houston. How will it look if Denver gets off to a 4-1 or a 3-2 start with Nix as their quarterback? Maye is better than Nix. Mayo is not better or smarter than Sean Payton. If Mayo and Alex Van Pelt are competent coaches and confident in their styles, they should start getting a return on their investment, in drafting Maye, as soon as possible.

What are they afraid of?