When Tom Brady played for the Patriots, it felt like Rome. He was the Alexander the Great while Bill Belichick was his ‘Aristotle.’ One of the main reasons why Rome fell was instability. It started when Brady departed. Belichick tried to salvage the locker room. However, the dynasty ended. They brought in the new general, Jerod Mayo. But it ain’t easy.
On the 9th of October, ESPN’s Adam Schefter claimed that the coach is going ahead with Drake Maye as the starting quarterback. But some claim he has turned his back on the locker room. When Mayo announced Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback, he expressed that he wanted to tell the team before the media. But Tuesday being an off-day, the players are finding it out from the media.
The team has been unstable, especially in the quarterback department. Jerod Mayo sensed this and made some key decisions. He first brought a rookie (Maye) followed by a veteran (Brissett). But still, the locker room is unhappy. One source had some outrageous claims. A mutiny! Yes, there might be a rebellion.
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FWIW: Jerod Mayo made it clear back in August that he wanted to tell the team before the media when naming Jacoby Brissett their starting QB.
Tuesday is an off-day for the #Patriots and according to a source, no team meeting today. Some players are finding out about the switch…
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) October 8, 2024
Some Patriots players have rejected such claims. LB Jahlani Tavai claimed those rumors were baseless. The coach was asked about it when he appeared on WEEI. Jerod Mayo also refused such rumors and said, “The mutiny report is what it is, guys put out things all the time. If it’s true or false, that’s for you guys to decide and you guys put your spin on those things. I don’t think so, but I’m the last to know.” Players might have been unhappy with the QB situations, but a mutiny might be too far-fetched.
After all, the locker room has seen the results that haven’t been in their favor.
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What’s your perspective on:
Is Jerod Mayo's quarterback shuffle a sign of genius or a recipe for disaster?
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What made Jerod Mayo change his starting quarterback?
No one was sure about the quality of the quarterbacks. Everyone had their doubts. When Jacoby Brissett was announced as the starter, the locker room was cheery. He led them to win their season-opener against the Bengals. No one saw the incoming downfall. Next 4 games, 4 losses. Hence, the coach was under immense pressure.
Jerod Mayo was watching the QB’s performance, which just kept dipping with each game. In 5 games, he had 79 of 135 passes (58.5% pass completion rate) with 696 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. After 3 losses, everyone was worried. But after the 4th loss against the Dolphins, the Pats wanted change.
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The coach had earlier said that he wanted to give slow exposure to the rookie. But when you are struggling for survival, every decision holds weight. Jerod Mayo found support from an ex-Patriots player. Former safety Devin McCourty revealed that Mayo plucked a leaf from the former coach’s book and said, “Bill Belichick used to tell us, in the NFL if you’re not getting the results that you want, you have to change.”
What do you think? Will the Patriots get the results after Maye takes over? Stay tuned! We’ll find this on the 13th of October against the Texans.
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Is Jerod Mayo's quarterback shuffle a sign of genius or a recipe for disaster?