In the NFL, the bench can feel like a black hole for QBs—one minute you’re the star, and the next, you’re an audience member. Just ask Jacoby Brissett. As the Pats prep to roll out rookie Drake Maye, Brisett opened up about the pain of being benched. 

The Super Bowl LI champ dropped two-word wisdom for Maye: “Play well.” With the Pats struggling like a fish out of water, Brissett captured the emotional rollercoaster of the benching experience, stating, “Words can’t really describe how tough it is.” And tough it is! The Pats are floundering at the bottom of the offensive charts—sitting pretty at 31st in yards and points—and somehow averaging a league-worst 119.4 passing yards per game. Ouch!

But don’t count Brissett out just yet! Instead of sulking in silence, he’s stepping up as a mentor for Maye, proving that even when the going gets tough, you can still throw a lifeline. When the rookie checked in on him, the 31-year-old’s response was straight-up inspirational: “If you’re worried about me, you’re worried about the wrong thing right now.” 

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And honestly, Brissett’s advice couldn’t be more spot-on. He knows that this is the moment where legends are made (or broken), and every snap counts. It’s all about capitalizing on opportunity, especially as Maye gears up for his first start against Houston, who are no pushovers this season. Brissett’s experience’s been a mixed bag, but he believes in QB Maye’s potential. “Great kid. Great kid. No malice in my heart toward him. I just want the best for him,” he said.

The 22-year-old ain’t stepping into a cakewalk, and the team must shake things up. After all, one analyst’s already called out New England for their handling of Drake Maye. 

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Maye’s time to shine’s finally here, but man, the timing feels like a scene straight out of a sitcom. Analyst Bill Simmons didn’t hold back in his critique. He went all in, dubbing the Pats’ management “the dumbest, most incompetent ownership/front office group” since Victor Kiam (who famously owned New England in the ’80s). 

Simmons couldn’t believe the coaching staff decided to let Brissett keep taking hits instead of getting Maye some much-needed experience against a defense that actually intimidates. Now, with the Patriots ranked a dismal 31st in both yards and points per game, Maye’s got a lot on his plate—and a tough Texans pass rush breathing down his neck. 

Can he turn this mess around? Let’s see how things shape up.