New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo made waves when he told the team that Jacoby Brissett will lead as the starting quarterback, prompting immediate support from Drake Maye.
The Patriots are stepping into a brave new world as they commence the 2024 season without Bill Belichick, who ended his monumental 24-year tenure as head coach. For the first time in more than two decades, someone other than Tom Brady, Cam Newton or Mac Jones will be taking the snaps under centre for the Pats.
Marking the start of a fresh chapter, the Patriots have placed their trust in Maye, a QB heralded as a once-in-a-generation prospect, securing him with the third overall pick. Having shown potential in the preseason, many thought he was destined to be the Week 1 starter.
Instead, Brissett has been chosen to start, with Maye stepping up to the plate, congratulating him and pledging support as his understudy. Discussing the dynamic, Brissett stated: "It's the same thing for him. Whatever he needs from me, I'll do the same."
Brissett reunites with the franchise that drafted him back in 2016, where his performance sparked enough interest for the Indianapolis Colts to acquire his talents. With stints at the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Washington Commanders, he's now on his fifth team and is geared up to provide both leadership and experience.
Although regarded as a reliable signal-caller, with a win-loss record standing at 18-30, it seems likely that Brissett is keeping the seat warm until Maye is called upon to take over the reins.
One possible reason for the shift could be New England's challenging schedule for the first eight games of the season. They're set to face eight consecutive teams who are all favourites to reach the playoffs, while also potentially struggling with issues on their offensive line to safeguard the quarterback.
New England is tipped to have one of the worst records in the upcoming league season. They'll miss defensive star Christian Barmore for the first four games after he was listed on the Injury Report, and they've also traded away pass-rusher Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots have also let go of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, despite offering him a substantial contract just 18 months prior. The pass catcher is now returning to the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent.
It's still uncertain whether the Patriots will redshirt Maye for his rookie season, a strategy that has worked well with quarterbacks in recent years, much like the Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes.
