One former Patriot in the media game is burning up with Zappe Fever while another is holding out -- for now.
On Paramount's "Inside the NFL," beloved Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman unequivocally jumped on the Bailey Zappe train after the rookie put up 309 yards passing and two scores against the Cleveland Browns in relief of the injured Mac Jones last weekend.
"If [Zappe] continues to play the way he's playing right now, he has to be the starter," Edelman said. "Mac Jones is going to be coming off a high-ankle sprain. His strength in the pocket is his ability to move. If he can't stick his foot in the ground, he can't plant off his foot, there's going to be deficiencies. And Zappe matched Mac's best game last year on the road against the Cleveland Browns, getting a win."
Of course, it's also worth noting that Zappe has played worse defenses on average than Jones did to start the season and that the passing game has been less downfield-heavy than it was with Jones at the helm.
But as an ex-receiver, Edelman's words offer an intriguing perspective, and you wonder what the offensive skill players might be thinking privately about whether they prefer Zappe over Jones at this point.
Jason McCourty got a chance to hang out with many Patriots, including Jones and Zappe, at a charity event recently and said he gets the impression Jones hasn't fallen out of favor with the locker room -- despite what some might suggest.
"The team loves them. Both of them. Both of these guys," McCourty said on NFL Network's "Good Morning, Football."
The former Patriots defensive back also called the situation between the two more like Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins' dynamic than Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady's. Griffin and Cousins were both drafted in 2012 by Washington in an attempt to solidify the quarterback position, with Cousins taking over for the injury-riddled Griffin after three seasons.
Zappe's play, McCourty explains, isn't so much about trying to replace Jones as it is making the Patriots' situation at quarterback better in the long term with backup Brian Hoyer aging.
"Maybe there's some competition. I think Mac gets the job back, but…the leash is a little bit shorter in the fact of you can't turn the ball over," McCourty added.
The ex-Patriot also highlighted the differences in Jones' situation to start the season with what Zappe has come into, noting that Jones underwent a change in offensive philosophy his second year while Zappe has only ever known this system in the NFL.
"For Mac, it's totally different now…you're learning something different. You have to wash away all the old stuff. It takes a little longer," he said. "But Bailey Zappe, you come in, you're a wide-eyed rookie, 'Whatever you say, coach.' That's all you know. Mac will continue to take off, but Bailey Zappe has just solidified their No. 2 guy."
Jones had shown signs of an upward trajectory against the Baltimore Ravens, putting up a 300-yard performance that featured multiple explosive plays but was marred by crippling interceptions. By contrast, Zappe has thrown only one pick, which wasn't his fault.
It's likely only a matter of time until Jones gets another chance to start. Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reported Jones was about "85-to-90 percent" health and that it would be up to the team to decide his status for Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears.
The question will be how quickly he shows improvement and knocks off rust because Zappe will be waiting in the wings to take over if Jones struggles.
