Monday marked the 17th day of training camp for the Patriots, and the conversation around Drake Maye possibly winning the starting quarterback job ahead of Week 1 in Cincinnati has never been louder.
This groundswell, in large part, can be attributed to the head coach of the Patriots, as Jerod Mayo has publicly mentioned the possibility of Maye winning the job on four different occasions since the conclusion of Thursday night’s 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles.
Once towards the end of his postgame press conference, then again towards the beginning of his virtual press conference on Friday morning, and twice on Monday morning before practice.
The first mention on Monday came during his first weekly appearance on The Greg Hill Show of the season, part of WEEI’s “Patriots Monday” coverage.
“100%, and we’re still in training camp,” said Mayo when asked if Maye could win the job. “We still have, you know, our preseason game against Washington. And once again, we don’t have a starting quarterback right now. When it’s time, we’ll announce that.”
Just under two hours later, during his media availability before practice, he went there again.
“We still don’t know right now,” Mayo said when asked if he knew who their starting quarterback was three weeks into training camp. “We have another preseason game, and then a week after that.
“When I know, I’ll let you know.”
If the door wasn’t all the way open for Maye before, it’s now practically propped open by large crate.
So what’s nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett to think of all of this?
When asked on Monday after practice point-blank by Mike Giardi from the Boston Sports Journal, he simply replied, “I still treat myself as the starter.”
And that makes sense, as all the rhetoric from the team until four days ago conveyed just that - Brissett is the guy, he’s the veteran, and Maye has a development plan that the team is committed to regardless of public pressure.
But after a lackluster showing from Brissett on Thursday that included a bad red zone interception, combined with four nice series for Maye (one that included a touchdown run of his own), plus continued growth for the rookie quarterback at practice, the tune around the quarterback depth chart has changed.
“I guess that’s what keeps y’all jobs, right? Is to keep creating that,” Brissett said of the QB conversations. “Man, I can’t worry about that. I just go out there and just do my job.
“I’ve been in this league long enough, you know, and a lot of crazy things have happened in my career so far, and I wouldn’t be shocked by anything. But at the same time, man, I’m enjoying this process, and just putting my best foot forward, and just letting the chips fall where they may.”
If Monday was a poker game, both Brissett and Maye were hot on the table. Brissett was 5 for 6 overall, while Maye went 8 for 11.
But it was Brissett who had the best hand at the table, as he and third-year receiver Tyquan Thornton connected for the play of the day during practice’s 11th period.
During 11-on-11s, Brissett hit Thornton for an over-the-shoulder grab on a go route over second-year corner Christian Gonzalez up the left sideline for a huge gain.
This is the type of play Brissett needs to happen for him on Sunday in Washington if he wants to put the conversation around the starting job to rest.
“That’s what has kept me in this league so far, is not listening to the outside noise,” said Brissett. “If that was the case, I would’ve been done in this league a long time ago.”
How long before Brissett is “done” as the starting quarterback this season will remain the biggest story surrounding this team in 2024, especially if their head coach keeps talking about it.