Patriots coach Jerod Mayo opened the door potentially for Drake Maye to start on Sunday against the Houston Texans in his Monday morning press conference. At least I think he did.
Mayo touched on several topics but he was openly critical of Jacoby Brissett’s performance on Sunday and said that he and his staff are evaluating the position this week.
“It just wasn’t good enough. I thought we played well enough defensively and on special teams to win the football game. Look, as the quarterback, and he understands this, he touches the ball on every single play and we didn’t win the game, or score enough points to win the game. I think he would echo that same sentiment that it wasn’t good enough.”
Mayo added: “I’ve watched the film. I just haven’t watched some of the other things. I’ve watched the offensive and defensive film, for sure. I got to get to the special teams. What I would say is I think I’ve been pretty consistent. My messaging is that every single week we’re all, or I should say every single day, we’re all being evaluated. And it’s no different now. That’s kind of how I see it.”
For his part, Brissett told WEEI on Monday that he expects to start on Sunday against Houston.
It is hard to argue with that because Mayo did not definitively say that the Patriots are starting Maye on Sunday. He hinted at it like he has done all season long. It is the same old dithering that is starting to get annoying. Either commit to starting Maye and move forward or reiterate that Brissett is your quarterback and support him publicly.
The Patriots are putting on a masters class on how not to handle the situation.
Mayo was asked if the performance of the other rookie quarterbacks is influencing the organization’s decision to possibly make a quarterback change.
“I watch those guys on film. I would say each situation is unique, and so is our situation. I think you hit it on the head. Those guys, it was a little bumpy at first, Jayden Daniels aside, but those guys are playing at a high level. It’s natural for fans and for the media to say, ‘well, we have a good quarterback waiting in the wings as well.’ At the same time, our mentality is how do we develop him? How do we get the guys on the field around him to develop, and move forward from there.”
I don’t get “We’re starting Drake Maye” from that statement. Sorry. That sounds like something you might here from a Sunday morning pregame show, not from a coach ready to make a quarterback change.
I am done speculating on what the Patriots will do regarding the quarterback position. Until I hear Mayo utter the words: “Drake Maye is starting on Sunday” I am done trying to guess on Maye’s timeline and when he will start.