If there was ever going to be a ‘rookie wall’ for younger players on the Patriots, it’s this season.
Sitting at 3-9 and clearly limping to the finish line, most of the rookies on the Patriots will have had their seasons winding down by this point or within the next couple of weeks as college players just 10 or 11 months ago.
Even those that could be on teams making bowl games would have been done well before the Patriots’ last game is scheduled for this season.
So, on Tuesday, I decided to ask head coach Jerod Mayo, Drake Maye and a few other young guys about the ‘rookie wall’ and if it’s something they’re preparing for or talking about…
Mayo: “No, I don’t really believe in the rookie wall. I don’t believe that it happens in a certain week. There are certain times throughout the season that you have your ups and downs, and you just have to have the mental toughness to be able to push through.”
Maye: “Rookie wall for me, really, as a starting quarterback, I don’t really think a rookie wall is going to hit me. I think by this time, everybody is going through some type of injury, tired, or something like that. So, what an opportunity to be the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots, so really, no rookie wall for me.”
Ja’Lynn Polk: “I ain’t never heard of a rookie wall. I mean, it’s a long season of course, so it’s just staying consistent. You can kind of get in that moment of trying to hurry up and go home, so what I think it comes down to with the season coming to an end is stay consistent doing the same things you’ve been doing all year long. Just keep the main thing the main thing. Not trying to do too much…just stay to the script, your routine and what you do.”
Dell Pettus: “I feel like it’s definitely a real thing. Fortunately for me, I don’t believe I’ve came across that yet for whatever reason. I’m thankful for that. But, I was definitely told about it and I know it’s a real thing. It’s like…rookies adjusting to the NFL in their first year. I feel like anybody going through it, just listen to your vets. Take their advice on how they got through it and just keep pushing. It was kind of something we were told during the summer that may or may not come up for us. Like, be careful. It was more advice than anything else from our vets early in the summer. So, I think they were very proactive on that making sure we were taken care of. It’s starting to feel a little bit different just because this is my first year coming from college. Fortunately for me, my last two years I did play 14 games, so I’m a little more adjusted to it. But, I definitely felt like I’m getting used to the longevity of the season. I’m thankful for that and just trying to take it one day at a time and keep going.”
Joe Milton: “It hasn’t been mentioned. I’ve heard it before, but I really don’t understand what it is technically. But, it don’t put no fear in my heart on what it is. I kind of just let it be. It hasn’t shown up, so, I really don’t know what it is. I haven’t played so my body feels normal right now. I feel the same as when I first got here…as far as the day-to-day mental grind, yes and no (it’s different than college). It’s kind of split 50/50 just because it’s like…you know what you’re getting yourself into, but it’s just more meetings than college.”