The New England Patriots’ decision to draft quarterback Jacoby Brissett with a third-round pick in 2016 might have surprised some people.
But if you do a little bit of digging — and if you consider the looming quarterback decision the Patriots ultimately must make — it’s certainly not shocking the Patriots grabbed the North Carolina State product .
Brissett’s past is dotted with Patriots connections. Former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis recruited and coached Brissett at Florida before the QB transferred to N.C. State. Former Patriots head coach (and Bill Belichick’s former boss) Bill Parcells also is familiar with Brissett, seeing him play as a high schooler in Florida and advising the prospect before he entered the NFL.
So when Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an injury Sunday, Parcells couldn’t help but be excited for his former pupil. In an interview with The MMQB, Parcells compared his joy to that of an “expectant father” as Brissett took the field for the Patriots.
Like Weis, Parcells had only but good things to say about Brissett.
“He is tremendously dedicated, tremendously committed and he is smart,” Parcells told The MMQB.
Certainly sounds like the sort of player Belichick covets, right?
“I am glad that he is with Bill Belichick,” Parcells said. “Because I know that gives him the best chance for success. I’m not going into an exposé about that. I’m just telling you I’m glad he is there, and I think Bill gives him an excellent opportunity to be successful.”
If Garoppolo’s shoulder injury keeps him out of Thursday’s game against Houston Texans, Brissett will be on center stage in his first career NFL start. It’s probably a safe bet Parcells will be watching — and smiling.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
