Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo opened practice on Wednesday with a meeting with the media, where he was peppered with questions surrounding the quarterback position for the upcoming season.
Will rookie quarterback Drake Maye be the starter Week 1 in Cincinnati, or will it be nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett?
This is a topic he has repeatedly fueled the fire of since last Thursday’s 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles: once towards the end of that game's postgame press conference, again towards the beginning of his virtual press conference on Friday morning, and twice on Monday morning before practice - once during his interview with The Greg Hill Show, and again during his media availability.
On Wednesday, it started with a question about Maye’s ability to handle in-game operations.
Taylor Kyles of CLNS Media asked, “When it comes to that pre-snap operation for Drake Maye, is he in a place where if he had to start, you feel like he’s ready? Or do you feel like he’s still kinda coming along here?”
Before Kyles could even finish asking his question, the first-year head coach jumped in.
“100% - I think he’s ready to run a huddle,” Mayo said with zero hesitation.
Later on in the press conference, Mayo said that by Monday night, after the team has had time to digest the game film from Sunday night’s preseason finale against Washington, the team will likely know who the winner of the starting quarterback job for Week 1 will be.
“I would say by Monday night we should know who the quarterback is,” said Mayo. “You know, Sunday night game - it’s always hard to really crank through the film, you know, especially on the road. But I think Monday, Monday-Tuesday, you probably need to know who it is.
“Now, that doesn’t mean I’ll tell you on Monday or Tuesday,” he finished with a laugh.
And it appears Mayo is telling the media the same story he’s telling his players behind closed doors.
When Maye met with the media after practice, he was asked if he felt like Brissett was the de facto starter at the moment, given how much more work he has gotten with the presumptive starting group so far this training camp.
“Um - you know I’m not 100% sure,” said Maye, quickly raising his arms in confusion at the beginning of his answer.
“You know, I know that Jacoby’s played great. I think there’s opportunity for him to go out there and make plays. He knows the offense - he’s been a great teacher to me as a young rookie coming in here, and just excited, you know, to be able to learn from him throughout the season when things start going.”
Everything the Patriots have done up until last Thursday would tell you that Brissett is unequivocally going to win the starting job. From the amount of reps with the ones, to the preseason starts, to the comments made during media availabilities, all signs were pointing towards the veteran.
But since Maye outplayed Brissett against Philadelphia prompting Mayo to open the door for a QB competition, the signs have continued to mount in Maye’s favor.
Mayo’s comments to the media have been well-documented.
Maye’s reps with the first unit have steadily increased, including taking snaps from starting center David Andrews on Wednesday for the first time all camp.
And, maybe most importantly, Brissett has continued to look like a journeyman quarterback.
In addition to his struggles against Philadelphia, Brissett has yet to string together two strong practices in a row in quite some time.
Monday saw Brissett go 5 for 6 passing overall, along with the throw-of-the-day to Tyquan Thornton during 11-on-11s towards the end of practice.
But after Tuesday’s off-day, Wednesday’s practice was back to the inconsistencies for Brissett.
Early on in practice, the veteran was picked off by rookie cornerback Marcellas Dial, who stepped right in front of a pass off play-action intended for Thornton. Later on in practice, he nearly threw his second interception on a forced ball to rookie Javon Baker, but the pick was dropped by former Birmingham Stallion AJ Thomas.
Add a batted ball at the line of scrimmage, and it was, yet again, a mediocre-to-bad day for the 31-year-old.
So does Maye feel like Sunday’s game, along with the next few practices, are his opportunity to make a final push for the starting job?
The rookie didn’t take the bait.
“I’m just gonna take advantage of my opportunities,” said Maye. “Jacoby’s done a great job. He’s a great player, great teammate, reps with the ones full-time. So, excited for him, and just try to take advantage of the reps I do get, and when I’m in there try to have some fun.”
If-and-when the decision to start Maye over Brissett is made, Mayo told the media that the decision would be made in collaboration with himself, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, and the rest of Van Pelt’s offensive staff.
“I think our goal is to put the best team that we can put out there,” said Mayo.
If Maye continues to outplay Brissett in the coming days, we shall see if this collaboration believes the kid gives them their best team.