The Patriots were rough to watch through four weeks, and fans found it hard to believe it would get better, which is why they want to see Drake Maye take over as the starting quarterback.
Jerod Mayo didn't give fans what they wanted after New England's loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4. The Patriots head coach affirmed Jacoby Brissett as the starter and didn't sway away from Maye's development plan.
Multiple franchise legends were supporters of Mayo's decision to ease Maye in the NFL, including Rob Gronkowski, who didn't want to see the rookie start until around Week 12. One of Gronkowski's former teammates also didn't want to see Maye start after watching last Sunday's loss.
"Everybody calling for Maye to get in there, pick apart Jacoby, finding all the throws where they think somebody is running wide open. I’m sure Jacoby missed some throws," James White said on the "Money Down Podcast" on Monday. "I'm sure he's scrambled when he probably shouldn’t have. But that's what happens when nobody's blocking up front; you don't trust it. You don't trust it. Your eyes be in the wrong place every now and then. Y'all think you gonna throw a rookie out there and he just gonna go out there, and shred it up and handle business? I don't think so. Your best offensive lineman David Andrews got hurt in the first quarter of the game. You're playing with a lot of backups up front. I don’t see why anybody's trying to say Drake Maye needs to go out there and play. It's just too much going on."
Mayo confirmed Wednesday that Andrews will need shoulder surgery and hinted that the captain will be placed on season-ending injured reserve. The head coach added that Andrews' injury and Maye's timeline don't tie together, but it was tough to believe that given the importance of center in the NFL.
The continued losses and Brissett's inconsistent play will gradually wear down Patriots fans' patience, but it seems like many former players are in lockstep with Mayo on waiting as long as needed.
