Unlikely voice of wisdom has sound take on Patriots waiting to start Drake Maye

One of the most controversial decisions of the Patriots 2024 offseason was inevitably going to be who was named the starting quarterback for Week 1. Although all signs pointed to veteran Jacoby Brissett holding that role since he was signed in free agency as the expected bridge player, rookie Drake Maye impressed throughout the summer, prompting calls for him to be the starter.

The debate picked up after his performances in the second and third preseason games, with Maye leading the offense down the field to score and even running in a touchdown himself. He showed a lot of promise and was touted as the quarterback who could give the team the best chance to win.

However, Jerod Mayo and Co. disagreed, which many fans and reporters argued was wrong, with some suggesting they're tanking the season before it even begins.

It's an argument as old as time: When a rebuilding team drafts the highly touted rookie quarterback, starting him immediately remains up for debate. Many believe if you draft a quarterback that high, you play them right away. Others, including Tom Brady, who experienced this very dilemma, believe it's more beneficial for a rookie signal caller to sit and learn from a veteran for at least a season.

Many fans, former players, and reporters have expressed their take on the Patriots' decision to go with Brissett instead of Maye, with both sides of the argument vouched for. But an unlikely source of wisdom has been inserted into the conversation, and it puts the situation into perspective even further, especially for those who still think the Patriots are making the wrong decision.

Bill Parcells' past words help scathing fans about the Patriots' decision on Drake Maye

In his weekly article to kick off the new week, ESPN's Mike Reiss wrote a lengthy piece about the Patriots quarterback decision and the reason behind it. Noting that the reactions mainly were split, with seemingly more not in favor of Brissett over Maye, Reiss brought up words from Bill Parcells' past that apply to the Patriots' current quarterback situation.

During his final years in the NFL as a head coach for the Cowboys from 2003 to 2006, Parcells made the decision to keep rookie Tony Romo benched rather than start him right away.

It was a choice that evoked similar reactions to those the Patriots are experiencing, but the legendary coach had an easy explanation for why it made the most sense long-term.

"Parcells had kept undrafted free agent quarterback Tony Romo on the Dallas roster in 2003 and it later became clear that Romo had potential to grow into something greater. At one point, Parcells was asked, "What do you have to lose putting Romo in there?"

To which he replied: "You have the quarterback to lose if he's not ready. That's one of the problems with young quarterbacks that get picked with high expectations or get rushed into situations that don't allow them to succeed."

Knowing now how Romo's career turned out, it's fair to assume that Parcells made a difficult but correct choice regarding the quarterback's future.

The Patriots are in a nearly identical situation, except that Maye was the third overall pick rather than going undrafted like Romo. But the rookie has shown a lot of development and improvement since joining the team this spring, proving he has all the tools to be their long-term quarterback solution.

But with that comes the decision to keep him on the bench and learn from those who have a long history in the NFL, like Brissett. He might not be Tom Brady or any other star quarterback, but experience is experience, and it is recognized as such, especially when mentoring a young, up-and-coming player.

Brissett has taken on his new role seriously and has shared he spends a lot of time with Maye at the facility and in their spare time. The rookie will inevitably learn a lot from being around him, which is not something that could be said if he was immediately thrown into the starting lineup, not to mention how difficult the Patriots' 2024 season is projected to be.

It's a decision that will be forever remembered, not just for starting the Jerod Mayo era in New England but also for beginning Maye's NFL career. How the Patriots fare will likely result from Mayo's choice to go with Brissett, but it's hard to argue that it's a better situation to put Maye in instead.