Zolak & Bertrand: Reaction to Jacoby Brissett being the starter

On Thursday's edition of Zolak & Bertrand, we dive into Jerod Mayo naming Jacoby Brissett QB! to start the season.

Scott Zolak: 

it's the way we felt yesterday, right? When he talked about it and sort of interjected like, hey, you know, let's not forget we look at the entire scope of things. You know, there's other factors that go into it. When you say it that way and you frame it that way, that favors the veteran. It does. The guy that's been around and seen more. We know it's going to be Drake Maye’s team at some point. I think he's a little pissed off. I think he's a little pissed off, meaning Jerod, at the timeline of this. You can complain about the timeline, you can, and there’s many reasons that you can. Have they wavered? Should you say a guy outplayed another guy and they're going to still go with the other guy? You can all argue that. You could argue that he says too much. But I know for a fact that they were not told until today. I do know that. Everybody said well, oh he did this yesterday because Bill did this and he doesn't have to talk till next week, so he doesn't have to face the press. No, that is not the case. He wanted to tell the press, but he wanted to tell the team first. First team meeting was today. So, the two players were told this morning early and then the team was told. I think he's pissed off that it got out at 8:10. Who the hell leaked it to Schefter and RapSheet because I think he wanted to break the news, he wanted to tell those reporters that sat in an hour and a half of traffic to go down there and get the news again after they were there yesterday for a press conference. You know, beat reporters that are there every day. Missing weekends with their family. And then it's shoveled to two national guys, 20 minutes before you want to break it to your press. I think that’s why it was so quick.  

With their initial roster set on Tuesday and the first waiver cycle completed on Wednesday, it's now time for Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo to put together the Patriots practice squad. That started on Thursday, with the team announcing the first seven signings of the season.

All seven players were with the team in training camp this summer. The group is made up of running backs Kevin Harris and Terrell Jennings, wide receiver Matt Landers, tight end Mitchell Wilcox, offensive lineman Liam Fornadel, defensive end Jotham Russell and safety A.J. Thomas.

Those signings leave the Patriots practice squad with 10 open spots remaining, four of which can be filled by veterans (the others have to go to rookie or second-year players). Russell doesn't count against the 16-man practice squad limit as an International Pathway Player, but that also means he can't be added to the active roster this season (although he can be a practice squad gameday elevation up to three times).

Some of those remaining spots could go to other players recently cut by the Patriots, including the four released on Wednesday (Jalen Reagor, Michael Jordan, Trysten Hill, and Isaiah Bolden) after the team's waiver claims. However there are some players who reportedly won't be returning, including safety Joshuah Bledsoe and wide receiver David Wallis (both reported by Mark Daniels of MassLive).

There are still a few positions where the Patriots are thin on their active roster that aren't yet supplemented by the practice squad. Quarterback, offensive tackle, tight end, defensive tackle, edge rusher, and kicker would all be spots where it would make sense for the Patriots to add.