Patriots QB Bailey Zappe Reveals Bill O'Brien Thoughts
The brunt of offseason workouts is just around the corner for the New England Patriots, as veterans will return to the facility for voluntary work shortly following the conclusion of the NFL Draft.
There will be a new voice and face in the meeting room for the quarterbacks, as the Patriots brought back Bill O'Brien for his second stint in Foxboro as the play-caller.
“I’ve only met him a few times, of course. With all the offseason rules you really can’t do that much with coaches right now,” second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe said of his new coach during a youth football clinic in an interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub. “The little amount of time that I’ve met him when he got hired — I’ve heard a bunch of stories about him, how great of a coach he is," Zappe shared. "I’m really excited just to learn with all the knowledge that he has about the quarterback position, of not just the position itself but from a defensive standpoint as well, how he sees a defense.”
The former fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky saw action in his rookie season, playing in four games, two of which he started in place of the then-injured Mac Jones. Despite being thrown into the fire unexpectedly, Zappe proved competent under center, leading New England to a 2-0 record as the starter.
Zappe's run with the first-team would prove to be short-term as once Jones returned to full health, the Patriots went back to their former first-round pick after a confusing dual-quarterback that was employed in the 33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears.
But, judging by the persisting rumors of a potential Mac Jones trade, that wasn't Zappe's last chance at being the starter. Zappe even spoke about if there is another opportunity, stating he'd take "full advantage of it."
Although the Patriots moving on from a turmoil-filled 2022 season, it seems the drama has boiled over into the offseason, as many are still left wondering if New England is looking to move Jones and go with Zappe as their full-time starter.
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