And The New England Patriots Starting QB Is...

Shank takes a look at the soap opera like debate over the starting quarterback position for the Pats:

Should the Patriots play Drake Maye over Jacoby Brissett? It’s not about who starts, it’s who finishes.

These are days of agonizing reappraisal in Patriot Nation. Who is the starting quarterback?

Veteran Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye?

Before the start of the preseason schedule, beginner coach Jerod Mayo said there was going to be a quarterback competition. With the preseason come and gone, Mayo says that Maye has outperformed Brissett. (Third-year backup Bailey Zappe, who started eight games over the last two seasons, was cut Tuesday morning.)

So who starts? And who sits?

It is a question of the ages … for the ages.

Most of you know the history. The Bill Belichick Patriots heaped too much too soon on 2021 first-round draftee Mac Jones, and Mac has been banished to NFL Siberia (Jacksonville).

The history of NFL rookie quarterbacks taking charge immediately is not great.

From there, Shank does a good job of looking back at similar situations with previous high draft pick QB's and doesn't draw a conclsion on the current Patriots' QB situation, a situation that's now moot with this morning's announcement that Brissett will be the starter for Week 1.