The Patriots’ decision to use a third-round draft pick on quarterback Jacoby Brissett raised some eyebrows over the weekend, but two former New England coaches believe the team will be thrilled with the player it’s getting.
Former Patriots coach Bill Parcells and ex-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis both raved about the North Carolina State signal-caller, with Parcells in particular comparing him to some of the greatest players in recent Patriots history.
“He’s a Curtis Martin-, Willie McGinest-, Troy Brown-type player,” Parcells told the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian on Sunday. “That’s the kind of guy he is. That’s what New England is getting. Those kinds, those Tedy Bruschi types, those players who’ve been successful — he’s very similar in his personal life to those kinds of guys.”
Parcells has served as a mentor to Brissett since the QB’s high school days, while Weis coached him for one season at Florida before Brissett transferred to N.C. State and Weis left to take the head-coaching job at Kansas.
“I only got to coach him for one season, but I absolutely loved the kid as a player and a person,” Weis told the Herald. “I couldn’t be any happier that he ended up in New England.”
Weis, the Patriots’ offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004, said he also relayed his stamp of approval to quarterback Tom Brady.
“I texted (Brady) and just told him a little bit about my relationship with the kid,” Weis told the Herald. “I told him he’d fit in great with the Pats.”
Brissett is expected to begin training camp as the Patriots’ third-string quarterback behind Brady — who currently is suspended for the first four games of the regular season — and backup Jimmy Garoppolo.
Click to read what picking Brissett means for the Patriots >>
Thumbnail photo via Jeremy Brevard/USA TODAY Sports Images
