Patriots Player Departure The dream is dead: Patriots releasing Rourke

[mike_usagisan]

I don't see Milton making it past waivers. Way to much raw talent for another team not to scoop him up IMO

Yeah, I can see that. But if we go Brisset, Maye and Milton and neither Maye nor Milton are ready, but Brisset is injured, then what do they do? Go with Maye anyway? Bring in a guy off the street?

I think Milton is the kind of guy you draft once you're finished with the first QB project (Maye), not at the same time.

 

[gobesmug]

Yeah, I can see that. But if we go Brisset, Maye and Milton and neither Maye nor Milton are ready, but Brisset is injured, then what do they do? Go with Maye anyway? Bring in a guy off the street?

I think Milton is the kind of guy you draft once you're finished with the first QB project (Maye), not at the same time.

In that case you get another top 5 pick next year with flexibility of getting either an elite OT or have the position of trading down.

Or you place Brissett on IR and sign another vet off the street to come in and fill in

 

[mike_usagisan]

Or you place Brissett on IR and sign another vet off the street to come in and fill in

Yeah, or I guess Zappe is maybe on the practice squad and gets bumped up to starting.

 

[mgteich]

So, without any camp, you all are ready to Milton under center for Game One if Brissette is injured during the game?

I think that it is now more likely that we are thinking that Maye may be our #2 on Game Day.

Alternatively, Zappe is still in the picture.

We could even carry 4 QB's until we are ready to have Maye or Milton leading the team behind our OL (in case of an injury to Brissette, even during a game).

 

[The Gr8est]

Yeah, I can see that. But if we go Brisset, Maye and Milton and neither Maye nor Milton are ready, but Brisset is injured, then what do they do? Go with Maye anyway? Bring in a guy off the street?

I think Milton is the kind of guy you draft once you're finished with the first QB project (Maye), not at the same time.

It was interesting that they drafted two QBs with similar games in the same draft.

We will see how they both take to the challenge of competition, more so Maye since Milton could see himself as being on house money.

Both are good backups for each other since they can substitute without changing the game plan.

 

[Jim Beankie]

Only so many reps to go around. It’s going to be interesting to see what they do with 4 qb’s on the roster. If Milton shows anything, he’s not going anywhere. It would be hard to believe Mayo would be willing to go into the season with 1 vet and 2 rooks. That means Zappe is safe.

Considering Brisk got injured the last 2 weeks of last season after playing just 46 snaps (better than Hoyer's magical 15 snaps in '22 but still), I think you might be right about their keeping 4 for now.

 

[gobesmug]

So, without any camp, you all are ready to Milton under center for Game One if Brissette is injured during the game?

I think that it is now more likely that we are thinking that Maye may be our #2 on Game Day.

Alternatively, Zappe is still in the picture.

We could even carry 4 QB's until we are ready to have Maye or Milton leading the team behind our OL (in case of an injury to Brissette, even during a game).

Let's be honest, if Maye can't come in and play half a game on a dumbed down offense, then what hope do we have he can ever be a franchise QB?

 

[JohnJH]

Brissett, Maye and then Milton vs Zappe to see who is #3 and who is on the PS.

Although it's by no means a certainty, if Milton shows that he can be coached up and given his raw abilities, I doubt that if he's put on the PS that some other team won't claim him for developmental purposes alone. The Jets took a smaller QB who's rehabbing from a severely broken leg 2 rounds earlier than Milton (and Milton is 1 year younger than that QB). I'd be happy with Brissett being the starter, having Maye hopefully sitting and learning his rookie season (even if he's a stud throughout training camp and the pre-season, but still have him take over in his second season with an influx of talent from the 2025 FA period and draft, in addition to the offensive players that we drafted this year), and Milton could be a solid #2 behind Maye. Milton's only major weakness is accuracy (which if he can be coached to overcome that, he has all the other tools to be at least a solid #2 and perhaps a valuable trade chip down the road if Maye becomes what we hope that he will).

 

[The Gr8est]

Although it's by no means a certainty, if Milton shows that he can be coached up and given his raw abilities, I doubt that if he's put on the PS that some other team won't claim him for developmental purposes alone. The Jets took a smaller QB who's rehabbing from a severely broken leg 2 rounds earlier than Milton (and Milton is 1 year younger than that QB). I'd be happy with Brissett being the starter, having Maye hopefully sitting and learning his rookie season (even if he's a stud throughout training camp and the pre-season, but still have him take over in his second season with an influx of talent from the 2025 FA period and draft, in addition to the offensive players that we drafted this year), and Milton could be a solid #2 behind Maye. Milton's only major weakness is accuracy (which if he can be coached to overcome that, he has all the other tools to be at least a solid #2 and perhaps a valuable trade chip down the road if Maye becomes what we hope that he will).

I have two trains of thought.

Maye sitting for a year as the Pats head to another top five pick could add much needed talent to the team, but I hate having players like Barmore endure another wasted season.

 

[JohnJH]

Yeah, I can see that. But if we go Brisset, Maye and Milton and neither Maye nor Milton are ready, but Brisset is injured, then what do they do? Go with Maye anyway? Bring in a guy off the street?

I think Milton is the kind of guy you draft once you're finished with the first QB project (Maye), not at the same time.

Then I would bring in a FA and throw them to the wolves and tell Maye, "You're ready, but we want better talent around you next year to unleash you upon the league". And, as we'll be picking in probably the top 5 next draft (where a day one LT prospect can be had), and additional talent we can draft, if we end up with anywhere from #1 to #3 overall, then we can trade back, and still grab a stud LT and now another top player (as we already have The QB). This is a 3 to 4 year rebuild, and if Maye is "The Guy", I'd rather sit him a year and give him the tools to be totally dangerous to opposing defenses.

 

[JohnJH]

I have two trains of thought.

Maye sitting for a year as the Pats head to another top five pick could add much needed talent to the team, but I hate having players like Barmore endure another wasted season.

Agreed. Still, Barmore is still young, getting paid, and if he see's that they have "The Guy" at QB, it's worth a season to increase your chances of being a SB Champion. Point taken though. And, if we have the guy at QB and additional talent working out, FA players both on offense and defense will want to come here (and we have the money to pay them, even after retaining some of our own choice guys).

 

[mgteich]

Let's be honest, if Maye can't come in and play half a game on a dumbed down offense, then what hope do we have he can ever be a franchise QB?

So, Maye should wait half a year while the OL improves and the Offense builds some cohesion?

HOWEVER, if Brissette is injured, you are ready for him to face the opps in Game One, and Game 2? Why PLAN to risk our franchise Qb if Brissette is injured?

1) If Maye is ready to be play on Game One, then great.

2) If Milton is ready to play on Game One, then great.

3) Otherwise, we should have a QB in addition to Maye who can lead the team until Maye is ready.

 

[Ross12]

So, Maye should wait half a year while the OL improves and the Offense builds some cohesion?

HOWEVER, if Brissette is injured, you are ready for him to face the opps in Game One, and Game 2? Why PLAN to risk our franchise Qb if Brissette is injured?

1) If Maye is ready to be play on Game One, then great.

2) If Milton is ready to play on Game One, then great.

3) Otherwise, we should have a QB in addition to Maye who can lead the team until Maye is ready.

It is unlikely Maye or Milton will be ready week 1, but it is possible that Brissett could be injured in week 1. I doubt they want to throw one of these kids out there like that, so having a guy like Zappe with starting experience seems valuable. I could see the merit in carrying 4 QBs to start off, until Maye is capable of coming in as the #2 if there is an injury.

If Brissett gets hurt before Maye is ready, Zappe takes over and then Zappe also gets hurt before Maye is ready, then those are just kind of the breaks - you can't be prepared for everything - but that at least seems unlikely. If nothing else, Zappe proved durable last year behind a dumpster fire OL. He moves in the pocket well and is sturdily built for his stature.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

So, Maye should wait half a year while the OL improves and the Offense builds some cohesion?

HOWEVER, if Brissette is injured, you are ready for him to face the opps in Game One, and Game 2? Why PLAN to risk our franchise Qb if Brissette is injured?

1) If Maye is ready to be play on Game One, then great.

2) If Milton is ready to play on Game One, then great.

3) Otherwise, we should have a QB in addition to Maye who can lead the team until Maye is ready.

I think Zappe is still on the roster to be backup sacrificial lamb should Brissett get hurt before Maye is ready to play.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

NFL Rumors: Patriots Waive Quarterback In Aftermath Of Draft

 

[gobesmug]

So, Maye should wait half a year while the OL improves and the Offense builds some cohesion?

HOWEVER, if Brissette is injured, you are ready for him to face the opps in Game One, and Game 2? Why PLAN to risk our franchise Qb if Brissette is injured?

1) If Maye is ready to be play on Game One, then great.

2) If Milton is ready to play on Game One, then great.

3) Otherwise, we should have a QB in addition to Maye who can lead the team until Maye is ready.

With the new practice squad rules they can always carry a vet on the PS if they feel the need. Mayo might also determine its worth keeping 4 QBs on the roster.

At this point it's anyone's guess what they ultimately do

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

So, Maye should wait half a year while the OL improves and the Offense builds some cohesion?

HOWEVER, if Brissette is injured, you are ready for him to face the opps in Game One, and Game 2? Why PLAN to risk our franchise Qb if Brissette is injured?

1) If Maye is ready to be play on Game One, then great.

2) If Milton is ready to play on Game One, then great.

3) Otherwise, we should have a QB in addition to Maye who can lead the team until Maye is ready.

If Maye and Brissette aren't 1-2 or 2-1, then they picked the wrong guy in the draft. Either Zappe or Milton heads to the PS. All subject to change if there's an injury.

(EDIT: I should have added this is assuming the OL doesn't suck. If the OL sucks, then you are absolutely correct in point 3 you've made above. No way Maye starts or is the backup if the OL is below average: there's just no point in risking it. And if that's the case, they will probably carry 4 QBs because I doubt they put Milton on the PS and the backup you reference in 3 won't be on the PS.)

 

[Rob0729]

So that means the Pats are down to 15 QBs now, right?

 

[mgteich]

With the new practice squad rules they can always carry a vet on the PS if they feel the need. Mayo might also determine its worth keeping 4 QBs on the roster.

At this point it's anyone's guess what they ultimately do

Please quote the Practice Squad rule where we can protect a player from signing on to another team's 53 man squad. I could see a team claiming Zappe if they needed a #2 or #3, especially if they experienced an injury.

 

[Gumby]

Damn. I was hoping to see him do something.

I guess, as others said; Pats are doing him a vet favor by letting him go before TC and let him catch on somewhere. Too bad for better depth than zappe; but Zappe is pretty safe on practice squad in season & I doubt Rourke would have passed waivers. And the qualitative difference was potentially marginal.


Too bad; wouldn’t been interesting