FOXBORO — Jacoby Brissett must have known what he was getting himself into when he signed with the Patriots this offseason, but that doesn’t make this week’s circumstances any easier.
Head coach Jerod Mayo decided to bench Brissett for rookie quarterback Drake Maye on Monday. He met with both quarterbacks on Monday night and announced it to the team on Wednesday morning.
“It’s tough. I don’t think words can really describe how tough it is,” Brissett said Thursday afternoon while meeting with reporters.
Brissett signed a one-year contract with the Patriots in March, but he knew that the Patriots held the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and that there was a strong possibility that they would select a quarterback.
That’s exactly what happened. The Patriots drafted Maye in the first round, and it was only a matter of time before he was going to overtake Brissett as the starting quarterback.
“I told somebody this the other day, I’ve been through harder things in my life,” Brissett said when asked how he’s doing. “I’m sure this won’t be the last time I go through something hard. I’ll be alright. Drake asked me how I’m doing. I’m like, ‘Man, if you’re worried about me, you’re worrying about the wrong thing right now. I can take care of myself.’ Appreciate that, but I’ll be alright.”
That does tell Brissett that Maye is a “great kid.”
“It’s no malice in my heart towards him, obviously. I just want the best for him, and I’m very excited for him.”
Maye had nothing but praise for Brissett’s leadership and positive attitude while speaking about his teammate and mentor on Wednesday.
“Jacoby, he’s the ideal teammate, the ideal guy to be in the room with as a quarterback,” Maye said. “I think the biggest thing is you hate it for him. I think Jacoby fought his butt off, got up every time he was getting hit. Not only that, he just kept that mindset of, ‘Hey, it’s going to be the next play. Got this drive coming.’ Seeing him on the sideline, it was the positive vibes he kept and brought to this team and will still bring to this team. He’s a great mentor, a great friend, and I was trying to do everything I can to help him, and I’m sure he’ll do the same.”
The Patriots started the season with a win over the Bengals, but they’ve now lost four straight games, and they’re averaging less than 120 passing yards per game. Brissett has completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 696 yards with two touchdowns, one interception and one lost fumble. He’s also been sacked 17 times for a loss of 108 yards.
Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Thursday that he was on board with Mayo’s decision to make a quarterback change. Van Pelt’s relationship with Brissett dates back to 2022 when they were offensive coordinator and quarterback with the Browns.
“It was hard for me. It’s hard anytime you make a quarterback change,” Van Pelt said. “You’re in that room with those guys, and we’re all so connected in there. Obviously, our relationship from Cleveland, there’s a lot of weight there, and it’s tough to see a guy go out there and do what he’s done, taking the hits, making plays when he has the opportunity, and saying, ‘Hey, we’re gonna give the ball up to the young guy.’
“It’s tough. But again, I think he was the guy that we wanted here, knowing his personality and his team-first mentality, knowing that he was going to be bringing along a young quarterback. I think that was one of the decisions we made as an organization, the type of person we wanted to bring in.”
Brissett’s teammates also felt for the veteran quarterback.
“Proud of Brissett, proud of how he’s being a pro and taking the information,” wide receiver Kendrick Bourne said Wednesday. “I know it’s probably tough, but it’s just how the league goes.”
Brissett said he wasn’t told when the Patriots might make a change at quarterback before the season.
“I don’t make the decision,” Brissett said. “Kind of just roll with the punches, right?”
Brissett gave a similar answer when asked if there was anything he felt he could have done differently to prevent the Patriots from making this move.
“I don’t make those decisions,” Brissett said. “That’s a head coach decision.”
He also wouldn’t answer when asked if he felt like he was used as a scapegoat for the Patriots’ offensive struggles.
“I don’t get into that. Somebody else can answer that question,” Brissett said.
Overall, it’s unsurprising that the Patriots made the switch. Brissett is 29th out of 31 qualified quarterbacks in expected points added (EPA) per play, 24th in success rate and 26th in completion percentage over expectation. And that’s all while he’s 28th in air yards per attempt. He’s 25th among quarterbacks in overall PFF grade and 24th in PFF passing grade.
There’s no guarantee that Maye will be better behind the Patriots’ leaky offensive line and with a set of offensive playmakers that makes no NFL quarterback envious. But at least the Patriots can begin developing Maye and hope that he’s shed most of his rookie mistakes by the start of the 2025 season.