By the time the regular season rolls around, Bailey Zappe might be the odd man out with the New England Patriots, and the quarterback seemed a little miffed about his current circumstances.
As anticipated, the bulk of quarterback reps during Friday’s training camp drill went to youngster Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. It was a little unexpected that Joe Milton III, a rookie quarterback selected in the sixth round, saw action as the third quarterback on the depth chart and even got some snaps. Zappe didn’t get any.
After practice, Zappe was questioned about his lack of participation. He responded that he is attempting to adhere to Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo’s advice to prioritize “quality over quantity,” but he acknowledged that it is challenging for him to watch from the sidelines after starting eight games for New England in the previous two seasons.
“It is hard,” Zappe said. “You know you look back, you started eight games obviously. You have that on your resume, so nobody’s ever gonna forget that whether it’s here or whether it’s wherever. Obviously, I want to be here. I want to play here. I want to do everything I can to help this organization win.”
He then elaborated on his focus.
“You know, it is hard,” Zappe explained, “but I’m trying to be the best teammate I can because that’s what’s best for this team and that’s how we can win games. Whether I’m out on the field or on the sideline, I’m gonna do everything I can to help the guys.”
This offseason, Brissett, a former player for the Patriots, signed a contract to return for a second time as a free agent. This is Maye and Milton’s first NFL training camp. Zappe may believe that he is not receiving the treatment he deserves since he has already earned it.
The Patriots are aware of what they have with Zappe, of course. Over the course of two NFL seasons, the former Western Kentucky standout has passed for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Although he managed to gain favor with Bill Belichick in the previous season, the Patriots’ new leadership is aiming for more success. Any disappointment if Zappe is left off of the team’s final roster would be minimal.
