The Patriots‘ quarterback carousel is spinning faster than a Tom Brady spiral, and Chris Simms, Bill Belichick’s former assistant, just threw a wrench in the works. Simms didn’t just tap the brakes on the Drake Maye hype train; he slammed them hard enough to give Pats fans whiplash.

“This is what annoys me about media coverage,” Simms fumed on his NBC Sports show today. “They show one play of him running in the end zone and they’re like, ‘Drake’s ready to take over the New England Patriots’.” But Simms isn’t buying what the highlight reels are selling. He’s got a laundry list of concerns longer than a Bill Belichick press conference.

Maye’s second preseason outing against the Eagles on August 16th was a mixed bag. 6 of 11 passes were completed by the rookie, according to Phil Perry from NBC Sports Boston. It may have not looked as if he was setting the world on fire, but Rome was also not built in one day, anyway. When Maye had time and space to function, Perry noted flashes of potential. Additionally, one such moment came at a four-yard touchdown run on a zone-read keeper that showcased his athleticism as the third overall pick.

However, Simms is not ready to celebrate yet. He said Maye’s inconsistent throwing motion isn’t right, stating, “He has throws where he like pauses, he stops, he doesn’t know if he should throw it.” It’s like watching a chef second-guess every ingredient. Simms stood by his words saying, “He left the pocket and got in bad spots in the pocket a few times.”

Rewind to the first preseason game against the Panthers, and you’ll find more fuel for the skeptics’ fire. Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston called Maye’s limited playing time a “huge missed opportunity.” The rookie saw action for just one series, completing 2 of 3 passes for a whopping 19 yards. Talk about a small sample size. Interestingly, it was Bailey Zappe who stole the show that day, completing 12 of 20 passes for 108 yards.

Even Jerod Mayo, The New England Patriots new head coach, seems to be stealing some pages from Belichick’s book. This is what Mayo offered after the Eagles game: “If he’s better than Jacoby [Brissett], then he’ll play. He’ll start.” Mayo had more to say as well: “We wanted to see Jacoby obviously go out there and operate, as well as Drake [Maye], mixing them in there with the ones.”

Is the Maye conundrum a missed opportunity?

This conservative approach has divided Pats Nation. Some are pushing for him to play now; they want to see what their prized shiny new third-overall pick can do. There are also individuals in the “slow and steady wins the race” camp, embodying their inner Belichick while at it.

Belichick himself weighed in on Maye back in April on “The Pat McAfee Show,” saying that he “doesn’t have a lot of experience” and “is going to need some work in reading defenses and coverages.”. He also added that he “can be hesitant to throw to an open receiver for a short gain, instead hoping that a receiver will open up down the field.”. That reads like a recipe for disaster in the hurry-up NFL.

But here’s the rub–these aren’t exactly patient times in the NFL. While Belichick and his disciples speak cautiously, other teams are just throwing their rookies into the deep end and telling them to swim. It’s been a high-risk, high-reward strategy that paid off for some (Justin Herbert) and backfired for others (Zach Wilson).

So, what’s a rookie QB to do? Maye’s got the arm talent–even Belichick admitted he “can make all of the throws.” But as Simms pointed out, “He’s reluctant to throw the ball ‘cuz he doesn’t know where it’s going to go.” It’s like having a Ferrari, but being afraid to take it out of first gear.

This cautious approach seems to be visible in the Patriots’ offensive strategy concerning Maye. Maye was in the shotgun for 10 of his 11 drop-backs, with six in an empty formation.

The Patriots face a critical juncture as the regular season approaches. Will they stay true to the traditional Belichick method of developing quarterbacks, or will they succumb to the pressures of modern NFL norms? The team’s unofficial depth chart, with Brissett listed as QB1 followed by Maye and Zappe, suggests that they are leaning toward the former option.

That much is certain–all eyes will be on Foxboro during Week 1 to see if Drake Maye starts or if he ends up holding a clipboard on the sideline. Considering that Mac Jones was traded away by the New England Patriots to the Jacksonville Jaguars, as if clearing the path for their new golden boy adds further weight.

Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether this careful approach by the Patriots will pay off, or if its next franchise quarterback is still untapped. As for Drake Maye, he can keep plugging away, trying hard to prove Chris Simms wrong and earn Jerod Mayo’s confidence for now.