Committee decision on New England Patriots quarterback promises trouble

All NFL teams sooner or later face a decision similar to the New England Patriots' quarterback decision. It's the most important position in sports. Plus, if it gets it wrong, it can ruin a franchise's trajectory for a decade. Front offices and coaching staffs usually have a honeymoon phase of sorts. Owners allow some flexibility for at least a year or two. When a rookie quarterback is on the team, that phase is extended even further. But either way, the hiring or firing is usually a consequence of the quarterback player decision. That makes recent comments from the team a bit puzzling. Unfortunately for loyal Foxboro fans, the lack of continuity and consistent message at this point is something that sticks out like a sore thumb.

Committee decision on New England Patriots quarterback promises trouble

Fans notice every inappropriate slip-up after years of coach Bill Belichick's style with the media. Head coach Jerod Mayo described the current situation to reporters and one of his midweek training camp press conferences. He shared that the final decision is in the hands of a group of decision-makers. According to him, the Week 1 start depends on the judgment of many, as he said, “It's a decision between Alex, myself, Eliott and the rest of the offensive staff.” There are several reasons why this raises alarm bells. Mainly, when multiple people are “responsible” for something, then ultimately no one is responsible.

This is important to remember when building a team. Especially for a new head coach, this can prove to be a hard lesson in professional life. Too often, collaboration is touted as a goal in a work environment. Unfortunately, this rarely works. Instead, what usually happens is the beginning of the end. Things inevitably go awry or not according to plan. Spreading the credit among those who made important contributions creates two new problems. First, egos often get in the way. Situations devolve into a battle for praise. Arguably even worse when this takes the form of passive-aggressive behavior rather than talking things out.

The second is when the opposite happens. Because too many voices co-signed the original decision, everyone involved suddenly has plausible deniability. So when an organization doesn't do so well, blame can be shifted, and the collective game of who should be held accountable leads to people firing defensive arrows from their corners.

Collaborative decision making sounds good in theory. Unfortunately, the initial willingness to help and the feeling of a group project are more like what you see in any high school classroom. Some join in. Some put in a disproportionate amount of work. And some point the finger at others when they get an F.

The New England Patriots' original decision to quarterback was questioned again

By the second preseason game, all sides were pointing to Jacoby Brissett being the starter. Head coach Mayo hinted there was competition, but he made sure to make it clear that the starter would be the more experienced player at that point. The former Patriots third-round pick took the vast majority of first-team snaps. In addition, the team made its plans for Drake Maye clear. Everyone is confident in his potential. But the deviation from his schedule and the fact that he's sticking with it should raise eyebrows. That changed after the week with the Philadelphia Eagles. More importantly, public pressure appears to be influencing internal dialogues.

Officially, the New England Patriots' quarterback decision is still uncertain. However, as history shows, when there is a real quarterback controversy or battle, there is most likely no quarterback. The rookie from North Carolina could prove himself as a Pro Bowler one day. However, given this team's limitations, there is currently nothing to be gained from deviating from the original plan to put Brissett in the starting lineup.

Main photo: [Brian Fluharty] – USA Today Sports