What Jerod Mayo Told Drake Maye After Naming Patriots Starter

FOXBORO, Mass. — Jerod Mayo on Thursday delivered the announcement everyone knew was coming as Jacoby Brissett was named the starting quarterback of the New England Patriots.

Mayo said he met with both rookie quarterback Drake Maye and Brissett individually, as well as together, before announcing it to the team. The first-round rookie offered insight into what Mayo told him.

“Coach Mayo is great, upfront, honest,” Maye said in the Patriots locker room before Thursday’s practice. “The biggest thing is communication. He just said, ‘Hey, Jacoby, you’re going out there Week 1.'”

“You take most of the reps throughout camp, you kind of understand,” Maye said in reference to Brissett. “Other than that, continue to do what I was doing. Felt like I was doing a good job throughout camp, throughout the preseason. Other than that, just keep doing what I’m doing.”

Mayo felt all parties were on the same page from an “organizational perspective.”

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Maye did not consider himself “disappointed” by the decision. He felt like he left everything on the field in the preseason.

The North Carolina product also understands the situation given the experience Brissett has both in the NFL and in Alex Van Pelt’s system. Maye saw the writing on the wall since Brissett received the vast majority of first-team reps throughout training camp.

“Obviously, there’s two ways to look at it: I want to play — the competitive edge in me. At the same time, understand the situation,” Maye said. “Coming in here, Jacoby has been in the offense, and he got the reps with the ones all camp. So can’t really say I’m disappointed. But at the same time, wanting to be playing.”

Maye’s mindset won’t change at all. He will continue to study and work as if he’s competing to be the starter and pointed out he’s the next man up should anything happen to Brissett.

“I’m still going to be one play away so just got to be ready for all circumstances, and here to help Jacoby,” Maye said.

Following Thursday’s practice, the Patriots will be off until Monday as they get ready to face the Cincinnati Bengals in the regular-season opener.