As the adage goes, the backup quarterback is often the most popular guy in a football town.
For the right here and right now in New England, it may actually be the fourth-string quarterback who’s the most popular player in Patriot Nation this preseason Friday morning.
This after sixth-round rookie quarterback Joe Milton – he of the big arm and crowd-pleasing backflips – put on a fun show late in the preseason opener Thursday night, a 17-3 win over the woeful Panthers at Gillette Stadium.
While the future of the franchise, No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, stood and watched from the sidelines following his own short-lived second-series cameo debut, Milton used his athleticism and passing ability to give the Foxborough Faithful something to cheer about in Jerod Mayo’s first game on the sidelines as the HC of the NEP post-BB.
There was a 13-yard scramble in which the former Michigan and Tennessee star traveled far more ground than that traversing the field.
Then came the 38-yard touchdown pass.
It was love at first sight.
And it’s a problem for Maye.
Not that Milton is necessarily better than the top pick.
He fell to the sixth round for a reason.
Not that Maye isn’t having a fine summer in his own development, clearly entrenched as the No. 2 on the depth chart behind journeyman, seat-holding starter Jacob Brissett. In fact this was made even more obvious in the way Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt divvied up the reps in the first August action. A series each for the vet and the top rookie as they were treated like established players, followed by plenty of “it matters” playing time for Bailey Zappe and Milton.
The reality is that Maye is coming along nicely. The reality is that he’s going to be the starter in New England, probably sooner rather than later. The reality is that he’s handled most things thrown his way pretty well this spring and summer.
But, perception can be a reality killer.
And after what fans saw from Milton – especially those who chose to ignore the would-be pick-6 the young passer did his best to throw against Carolina’s backup to the backup defensive backs – there is a buzz and aura around No. 19 in New England.
He’s Zappe, Malik Cunningham and Michael Bishop all rolled into one popular youthful backup body.
Milton is a fan favorite already, thanks to the extended playing time and opportunities he got against the bottom half of arguably the worst roster in the NFL.
Maye is now being chased by a large shadow thanks to not really being given a chance to shine, even though he was more than fine in his single series of snaps.
Remember Zappe Fever? That was a problem for Mac Jones, be it in his own mind or his home stadium.
Now, we have Milton Mania.
That could be a problem for Maye, depending on how he handles it in his own mind as well as in the (fingers crossed) extended reps he’ll get in his new long term home going against a much more talented Eagles defense next week in joint practice and preseason action.
Mayo set a plan in place that led to a seed of rookie QB doubt being planted in New England.
Milton sprouted in fourth-quarter action that didn’t come close to counting, although in the minds of many it indeed seems like it mattered.
The hopeful reality is that Maye is the most important quarterback the Patriots have had since Tom Brady.
But this morning’s perception is that Milton feels like the most popular quarterback the Patriots have had since Tom Brady.
And that could be a problem for Maye moving forward.