FOXBOROUGH — It could be posturing, PR, or an outright lie, but Bailey Zappe believes he's still in Foxborough because he will be able to compete for the top job.
"That's what I've been told, so that's why I'm going to keep doing," he said after Wednesday's OTA.
I don't doubt that there has been a conversation or three about the third-year pro's role on the squad, especially after he closed last season as the starter. But as I reminded him, the Pats paid Jacoby Brissett $8 million to come here and immediately put him atop the depth chart. Then, they drafted Drake Maye #3 overall, signing him to the slotted deal for that spot (four years for $36 million, $23.46 million guaranteed, plus the fifth-year option). Zappe is just a fourth-round pick.
"Yeah, I'm not making as much money," laughed Zappe.
I didn't want to bring it up, but...
"I mean, I don't view it that way," he continued. "They've told all of us that there's gonna be a competition; everybody's gonna have the opportunity to go out there and prove that they can be that guy. All four of us are gonna do our best to do that, and whoever gets that job, the three of us are going to help that guy and do whatever he can on the field of winning games."
From what we've seen this spring, the Pats are keeping their word. Brissett has been the clear-cut number one during OTAs, but Zappe, not Maye, has followed in nearly all individual and team drills.
"My message is, it's not how many opportunities, it's what you do with the opportunities that you get," said Jerod Mayo when asked about Maye getting fewer reps thus far. "Look, going back to the competition part of it, the better you do on a day-after-day basis, not just on the field but also in the classroom, the more reps you'll get going forward."
Mayo admitted that there's been some awkwardness involved with having Zappe remain in the quarterback room, caught between a chosen veteran and a hopeful future. But instead of pouting or asking out, Zappe has gone about his business the right way.
"I think he has handled it fantastically," said Mayo. "Look, he is getting reps out here. You guys see him out here, and I would say he is getting better."
Zappe took the second most reps in team periods. While he threw the lone interception of the day - he was picked off by veteran Jaylinn Hawkins (though Javon Baker contributed to the miscue) - he was decisive if not consistently accurate with the football (he had some struggles in 7-on-7s).
"Man, I like Zap a lot, man," said Brissett. "He just goes out there and competes, and you know, the elephant in the room, he - like, this a tough situation for him. And you know, he's accepted that, and he's going out there every day and competing and doing a really good job and making a lot of plays. And I'm excited for his growth."
Zappe mentioned growth when talking to us. He's obviously gotten game experience — starting experience — but he's still a young player looking to establish a foothold in this league. So, while the 25-year-old feels he's proved himself in some aspects, there's a long way to go.
"There are some things that I did personally that I feel I did really good, and there's some things that I feel I did really bad," he said. "And those things, obviously throughout the summer that I've continued to work on with AVP (Van Pelt), T.C. (McCartney) even talked to Jacoby about some of those things, about how I can fix those things - not have them happen, and cost us games because you know, you look back at mistakes that I made (they) cost us wins."
BELICHICK'S BACK
No, not that one (Bill) or the other (Steven), though the latter did make his way out to Patriots practice Wednesday. I'm talking about Brian Belichick, who was offered and accepted a position on Mayo's staff, where he will once again work with the safeties.
You want to talk about the potential for awkwardness. Try working for someone who may have helped speed up your father's demise.
"I enjoy - very much - coaching here, living here, working with our players every day," said Brian. "I had the opportunity to coach a position in the National Football League. I mean, how much more can you ask for in that? It's been awesome.
"We just had our daughter and are living around here, you know, trying to take it day by day - both at home and at work - and just trying to be the best we can - the best parents we can, you know, the best coach in the building as I can and that's my focus. I think everyone's doing the same thing in the building. I'm not any different than anyone else."
Of course, that's not entirely accurate. He's a Belichick, and for over two decades, that name was synonymous with the highest levels of success in this or any other sport. And some of those family traits showed up at his press conference today, telling us that he'd leave comparisons of head coaching styles "to you guys." However, it wasn't dripping with sarcasm as it would have been with Bill.
Brian appears to be in a good place mentally and physically. He has recovered from a nasty injury in 2024 that kept him off the practice field for months and disrupted his daily life. He was hands-on during Wednesday's workout, as he was when we saw him last week as well. He's certainly getting good reviews from his new boss.
"He's been fantastic, he's been fantastic," said Mayo. "There are other guys in the organization that it has been a little awkward for him, and those guys have handled it the right way. Look, Brian loves football, and he loves New England. I think I talked about this a little bit earlier: a guy with a new baby loves it up here and wants to stay. We're happy that he's here."