And Mayo declaring it an open competition squeezed an entire can of lighter fluid on those briquets.
Unfortunately for the people advocating hard for Maye to start Week 1, so are the Patriots offensive coaches.
Seemingly all of them.
Because they grabbed that metaphorical fire putter-outer and doused those flames.
“[Brissett] is our starting quarterback.
The good news is that this week, we get to play everybody.
We’re still in the evaluation process.
To that, Van Pelt replied, “Sure, there’s a chance.
But there’s still a process of how you bring a rookie quarterback along.
Pressure situations, things like that,” Van Pelt explained.
“Drake is still learning, but he has been really impressive the last few weeks.
He’s moving in the right direction, for sure.
Jacoby has tons of experience, not just in the NFL but in this system.”
He’s a delegator.
Letting the guys with experience make the decisions on their side of the line.
Third, they probably still don’t completely trust the offensive unit they’re attempting to cobble together.
Not the hand of cards they’re currently holding on the O-line.
Or their young crop of receivers.
Or Maye’s ability to manage them all without spending part of his crucial rookie season development on IR.
Which begs the question: If not now, then when?
That’s a lot to ask of a guy in the first month after he turns 22.
And these are far from the best of times.
So right now, I support the hypothesis being proposed here.
You give Maye until Week 5 to watch and learn.
That’s a nice little runway to help him get up to speed and off the ground.
His first two games are at home, as is his fourth.
And no one’s at home in his third, because it’s in London.
I’m as anxious to see Maye become the transformative savior we need as anyone.
But his development is more important than anything else this season.
I can wait forever.
As long as forever means October 6th.
