Foxborough, Mass. (WEEI/WGR Sports Radio 550) - After taking the length of training camp and the preseason to evaluate the quarterbacks on the roster, the New England Patriots have finally made a decision on their starter for Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Thursday morning that nine-year veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett has won the starting job in New England, and will be under center to open the 2024 season in Cincinnati.
Schefter posted this report on X, formerly known as Twitter, only minutes before Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was scheduled to meet with the media to reveal his decision.
"We have decided, or I have decided, that Jacoby Brissett will be our starting quarterback this season," said Mayo. "Now in saying that - as an organization, we're 100% behind Jacoby.
"There is no, you know, 'You got a guy right here, you got a guy right there.' We're 100% behind Jacoby, and I had an opportunity to talk to Drake [Maye]. I had an opportunity to talk to Jacoby separately, and also together. And I feel like we're all on the same page from an organizational perspective."
What ultimately led him to choosing Brissett over Maye?
"There were a lot of factors that led to this choice," said Mayo. "I think, you know the hard part is, thinking in the short term and the long term at the same time. As an organization, though, we feel like Jacoby gives us our best chance to win right now."
With Mayo saying Brissett will be the starting quarterback "this season", does this mean there's no possibility of Maye starting in 2024?
"I don't wanna get into hypotheticals," Mayo said while cutting off the end of the question. "We can't go into the season saying, 'Well he's gonna go X amount of weeks.' Like, look, as long as Jacoby's going out there and performing the way that we all have confidence in him doing, he'll be our quarterback this season."
Maye will serve as the backup to Brissett to start the season, while fellow rookie Joe Milton III will hold down the third-string role in New England.