“21-of-34 passes for 192 yards with a touchdown.” It looks like good preseason stats, right? However, this statistic wasn’t just enough for head coach Jerod Mayo to give Drake Maye the starting role for the New England Patriots. Hence, as he mentioned earlier, “We’re 100% behind Jacoby Brissett,” the Foxborough team decided to stick with their statement. But did you know this move was intentional? After all, the HC recently admitted that Maye still needs time.

In a recent interview on September 6, 2024, via Carlos Talks Pats on X, Jerod Mayo revealed the real struggle while balancing his two quarterbacks’ game times. During the talk, Mayo said, “That’s the hard balance… the struggle that Eliot (Wolf) and I have is we wanna win now and also build this roster for the foreseeable future.”

Well, no one can deny the fact that after Tom Brady & Bill Belichick’s era, the Patriots need to find a combination that they can rely on completely for the future. In addition to that, they have another challenge too, i.e. the season continues every year, and to maintain their previous prestige and bring back their winning streak era, the Pats need a quarterback who can hold the fort until they find a new star.

Hence, in order to overcome these challenges, Mayo expressed his faith in Drake Maye by saying, “….it’s very important to the organization that Drake gets some experience. (To) learn how to deal with the game plan element of things and continue to develop because he is future, and I don’t think it’s a secret.” Well, that means the young QB is seen as the future of the Pats, and hence, Mayo and his team want him to get ready until the right time approaches.

So, now we know the reason why Mayo earlier mentioned, “Drake had more playing time in the preseason than Jacoby, and that was intentional.” The coach wants him to get ready for the upcoming responsibilities.

On the other hand, Jacoby Brissett “had just 14 passing attempts, as well as he completed only five of them and had an interception.” Despite this, New England has decided to roll with Brissett over Maye, and this decision is also supported by a few Patriots legends.

Tom Brady thinks Jerod Mayo is right to pick Brissett over Maye!

Tom Brady is one of the legends of the NFL. His 20-year era with the Patriots has given him enough experience to understand whether the coach’s decision is right or wrong. Hence, during a recent interview, the 47-year-old explained why Jerod Mayo is right when choosing Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye. He expressed, “I’ve been on record saying that I think it’s better, in my opinion, for young quarterbacks or rookie quarterbacks to watch a veteran do it first.”

Giving a few examples, including his own experience, Brady emphasized, “There’s so much going on and quarterbacks need to process so much information so quickly, and I think if you can have somebody, it’s better to be behind them, like I did with Drew Bledsoe in my first year. What a great player he was. Somebody I had to watch and learn from. Aaron Rodgers watched, behind Brett Favre. Patrick Mahomes watched, behind Alex Smith.”

Additionally, Brady, with his decades of experience, emphasized that for young quarterbacks, experience takes time. He pointed out that franchises expect these rookies to quickly step up and lead their teams into the future. However, Brady suggested that these young players need some time to adjust to the professional game and schedule.

Moreover, he highlighted the significant difference between college football and the professional level, implying that patience is crucial for their growth. In addition to Brady’s take, another Patriots legend, Drew Bledsoe, felt that Jerod Mayo did the right thing. During an appearance on WEEI’s “Jones and Keefe,” the 52-year-old appreciated the approach, especially with Brissett being a veteran quarterback.

Bledsoe believed that Brissett’s experience makes him a valuable mentor for Maye, while also being capable of leading the team. Furthermore, he reflected on his own experience, recalling how he was thrown into the game early in his career. Bledsoe revealed that though he felt ready for it, as did his coach Bill Parcells, he later realized that there’s also value in sitting back and learning. This was because, after getting injured during his rookie year, Bledsoe had to sit out for three games. And this was the time when watching from the sidelines helped slow things down for him.

In his rookie season, Bledsoe “played in 13 games, starting in 12. He threw 15 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and completed just under 50% of his passes, highlighting the challenges rookies face when thrown into the deep end right away.” Therefore, to avoid such mistakes in the future, Bledsoe and Brady think Jerod Mayo’s decision is perfect for all! Do you agree with the same? Let us know below in the comments.