Here’s what New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett had to say during his press conference with reporters on Thursday, May 16, 2023:
How’s it been?
“It’s been good, man. A lot of fun relearning the building and the area around and a lot of the guys that were here when I was here. But it’s been fun.”
On the guys who were here when he were here last:
“David [Andrews], Dietrich [Wise Jr.], and [Jonathan] Jay Jones. Newer, same, draft class.”
On if it’s odd being a veteran of the group now:
“Well, the funny thing is, the last couple of places I’ve been, I’ve been the veteran, but it’s definitely weird being here and being the oldest guy in the room. That’s a little different for me.”
On if he’s comfortable being someone who will be helping guys get to the next level:
“I mean, I think when I was here the first time, you realize everybody’s your mentor that’s older than you in this league or have more experience in, and I hope I’m that for more than just Drake in being a helping person for players on this team. When people ask that to other guys, I don’t understand the bad part. I’m a teammate first, and I hope I can be a good teammate to not only him, but to everybody on his team.”
On how much he’s learned with all the experience he’s had:
“Yeah, I mean, when I was here, I was 22, 23, and I’m 31 now. I’ve matured as a man, as a football player, and learning from those experiences that I’ve had throughout my career. I’ve been fortunate to play along or play beside a lot of other really good quarterbacks and a lot of good coaches. The things that I’ve learned, hopefully, continues to propel my career.”
On if there a guy who he gravitated to quarterback back when he was younger:
“Man, the fun thing about the year when I was here, it was so many good guys to lean on. Obviously, leaning on Tom [Brady] and Jimmy [Garoppolo] because we’re in the same room. But the [Devin] McCourty, I leaned on a lot. Martellus [Bennett], I leaned on a lot. It was just so many guys on that team that I was able to learn from and I think that’s the cool part about this building. There’s always been a lot of smart football players that a lot of young guys can not only look up to, but also learn from.”
On with this Alex Van Pelt offense, what can he tell us about him as a quarterback’s coach and what he does to help them do their job:
“It’s about the players, and he understands that. He kind of molds it around the guys that we have on our team. Obviously, playing the position and having the experience a lot of other places where he was successful at as a coordinator, it’s always been about the players, and I think he does a really good job of that, and it’s becoming evident every day that we come to work. He’s obviously installed in our offense, but understanding the big picture is like, we’re going to plug and play our players where it fits their strong suit.”
On the offense, what we can expect as far as stylistically:
“Yeah. Like I said, it favors around the players on the team. So we’re still learning that. We’re still learning what we are going to be. Obviously, the end goal is to score a lot of points, and that’s the goal that we’re trying to build towards. The cool thing is we’ve got a lot of good players at a lot of different positions and can do a lot of different things for us. So I’m excited to see what the product looks like.”
On if there are differences in Alex Van Pelt’s offense from now to the last time they were together:
“Similar. They call us some things a little different than when I was there. But for the most part, it’s very similar.”
On what’s it’s been like with Jerod Mayo as a head coach:
“It’s been really fun. He brings a lot of good energy. It’s been a lot of fun. The cool thing is, you can tell he’s trying to make the players on the team run the team. Obviously, he’s the head coach, and he sets the standard and stuff like that. But he definitely puts a lot of responsibility on us players, and I actually like it.”
On having played with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, and what this feels like to him:
“I was 22, 23 years old. I was a kid in the candy store. Obviously excited to be drafted, and I’m playing behind the greatest quarterback of all time and the greatest coach of all time. I was giddy. I was eager to learn, which I still am, obviously. The thing is, I still feel that same feeling I felt when I was 23 walking into the building, and I feel that again. So I think Jerod is creating still … the environment is the same. We want to go win. That’s the end goal. Obviously, it’s a little different because he’s different than Bill. I love the energy that’s going on in the building and what guys are bringing every day. So I’m excited for it.”
On knowing they were going to go with a quarterback at #3, but what his reaction was after seeing that they also picked up Joe Milton in the later rounds?
“Didn’t bother me.”
On if he was excited to get to work with two younger quarterbacks since this is also where he got his start:
“Yeah. I mean, you have to trust that the people in that power are doing whatever they feel is best for the team. And that’s above my pay grade. So I don’t… I don’t want to say care, it’s the wrong word, but it’s just something that I can’t control it. So, yeah.”
On him being here the first time with David Andrews in, which was what, like second year, third year?
“Yeah, second year.”
On what he’s observed over the last five months or so, of David, his place within the organization, in the locker room, etc:
“I think it’s so funny because of that. When I was here, he was a second-year player, and now he’s, I think, a staple in the Patriot way. I think he’s somebody that when I think about the culture, I think he is that. Somebody that’s a worker and a guy that’s fought through his career to get to where he is now and I think a lot of players on our team can look up to him, not just guys on the O’Line. It’s like, shoot, Drake can look up to him as somebody that has built a career in one place, but behind a lot of hard work and obviously trials and tribulations in his career and things of that nature. I’m glad he’s here and he’s our center because I understand and I know what he brings to this team.”
On the fact he has a mutual acquaintance with Drake in Sam Howell and the story that you were saying he used to bond with golf and what that was like:
“Well, Sam always used to beat me. Besides the last time we played, I beat him. In OTAs, we played a lot of golf together. I think of it as one of my little brothers, man. I love that kid. He was excited when Drake got to come here because he was like, ‘Man, I’m glad Drake gets that experience.’ Obviously, with the weather like this the past couple of weeks, you’re not getting out to play golf that much. But hopefully, when it clears up, we can get out and play. I played with him and Drake one time this summer when they came to Florida. So I’m sure we’ll get our time out there.”
On how it went:
“Bad day. It was a bad day for everybody in the group, so we’re not going to speak on that day.”
On what his early impressions have been on Maye:
“Yeah, I mean, he’s got a lot of talent. He can make all the throws. He wants to learn football. He wants to get better. And that’s what you want, not only your quarterback, but anybody on the team. I’m excited to work with him. I remember my… Well, he’s 21. I was 22, 23, but I remember that when I was following Tom around. Anywhere I can learn, he’s already texting me about plays, and how do I think about this, and cadence, and stuff like that. Just all the little nuances of being in this position at this level.”
On how he makes this work while avoiding any awkwardness in the quarterback room:
“How do I make it not awkward? I don’t know. I’m just going to be myself. I have no ego in this to be like, I feel like I should do this, or it’s like, ‘Man, whatever is for me is going to happen for me, and whatever is going to happen for the next person is going to happen for the next person.’ It’s about being ready whenever your time comes. I just … The thing that got me to that mindset was my first year here. I’m the third-string quarterback my rookie year. Take no reps in training camp or OTAs. The first team, in week two, I’m in a game versus the Dolphins. You never know when your opportunity is going to come. It’s just about being ready. So whatever is going to happen for me is going to happen for me.”
On helping players from North Carolina:
“No. Well, Sam was in North Carolina, too. So it won’t be the first time, but I’m sure it probably won’t be the last time either.”
On what he remembers about when he played the Patriots, back in 2022:
They kicked the [expletive] out of me that day. Yeah. That was a bad day for me. It was a good day for Zapp [Bailey Zappe], though. He’s rubbed that in a lot since I’ve been here. So, yeah, it was a bad day.”
Sorry to bring that up.
“No, it’s all right. It’s all right.”
On what’s it been like working with Zappe?
“It’s been a lot of fun, man. Not only does he rub that game in a lot, it’s just the competitions that we have every day. And that’s the thing, though, the room is like, everybody’s talking, me, Drake and Joe. You got a guy that is starting an NFL in one game. He’s not a slouch. And I think the good thing about our room is, honestly, everybody wants to be the guy, and everybody’s competing to be the guy, and that’s what you want.
“I was talking to everybody about it the other day. It’s like, if none of us wanted to play, then our room would be messed up. We would be in bad hands in this organization. I think everybody understands that, and everybody wants to play. I know I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to play, and didn’t think I could do the job myself. I think he thinks that of himself, too, and he should.”
(Editor’s Note: This transcript is done via the available footage and is subject to typos. If you spot something, please take a moment to let me know in the comments below.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
