Week 1 Starter? Jerod Mayo Shares Patriots’ Goal For Drake Maye

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo addressed local media Tuesday, opening training camp with a fairly strong declaration about his starting quarterback.

It's Jacoby Brissett's job to lose.

Mayo, as he's been throughout the offseason, was honest about New England's desire to have Brissett start during his initial training camp press conference. Te first-year head coach didn't exactly close the door on Drake Maye stealing that job before the Sept. 8 opener, though.

"The goal for Drake is to just get better each and every day," Mayo said. "It's not a straight line up to the top. There will be ups and downs, but if you look left to right you just hope (for steady improvement). If he comes out here and takes full advantage and lights it up, he could be the Day 1 quarterback. But like I said, coming out of the spring it's Jacoby."

New England has preached competition throughout the offseason, so this very much could be another example of that. But Mayo has been much more selective with his words as he's started to get used to being in the big chair.

The Patriots aren't going to hold the No. 3 pick back, they're just not going to push him.

Mayo also roped in Bailey Zappe and Joe Milton III to the conversation, covering his bases in the process.

"It goes back to the same word, and it's 'competition.' It's not about everyone else," Mayo said. "It's about, 'Does this guy go out there and perform better than Jacoby?' That's the way I see it."

The Patriots will begin practices Wednesday, and while we have a long way to go before they name an actual Week 1starter, the process will begin this week.