“Patriots coaches aligned with Drake-Maye plan” – NBC Sports Boston

Is the New England Patriots' unwillingness to start Drake Maye despite their 1-3 start causing a rift in the locker room?

Head coach Jerod Mayo was adamant after the team's Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that Jacoby Brissett remained “the best choice” to start at quarterback. Apparently the ongoing QB conversation contributed to a “mutiny” in the building.

“There is mutiny in this dressing room at the moment. And I don’t want to be an alarmist or (hyperbolic) … I don’t want to do that,” Patriots.com senior reporter Evan Lazar said said on the “Catch 22” podcast.. “But I was in that locker room after the game on Sunday. The defense is mad at the defense, the offense is mad at the offense. There are young receivers who literally throw tantrums in the film. …

“Now you’re at this point with 52 other guys in the locker room, all watching these two quarterbacks practice every day. That everyone knows they drafted Drake Maye third overall. And when are some of these guys going, 'Why do I go out there and get my ass kicked every Sunday and Drake can't do it?'”

Lazar's insightful comments caused a stir, especially since he works for the organization. Our Patriots insider Phil Perry responded to the comments and shared his opinion on the Pats' QB situation on Friday Early edition.

“I said what Evan was trying to get at with his comments: It's going to be weird if you continue to not play Drake Maye and the offense continues to be at the bottom of the league,” Perry said. “So I have to be consistent and say that I somewhat agree with him on this point. I still don't agree with him about it being a 'mutiny'. I think that's just too strong.

Perry also provided information on how Mayo and the Patriots coaching staff feel about playing Maye this season. He believes the plan is to use the rookie “in a significant way” later this season.

“What I've been told is that they're all on the same page about the plan for Drake Maye, and I believe they have a window in which they can envision Drake Maye playing,” Perry said . “And he will play. He will play this year regardless of whether the offensive line is a complete crap show or not. He'll be out there eventually. The question is not if, but when.”

“And that to me is the difficult part of Jerod Mayo's job, where you knew the team could be bad and you knew you wanted to sit the young quarterback and let him rest or let him develop, but at some point the players. “On the pitch they will feel like they might not be getting the help they actually need, especially if, as we reported a few weeks ago, he's out there getting first-team reps in those replays he looks good.

“So they know – they at least have an idea – what Drake Maye can be, and I suspect they want him on the field at some point. … I think that will be implemented. “I think he will play a lot this year.

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After an encouraging start to the season, the Patriots' offense was virtually non-existent during their three-game losing streak. Brissett has thrown for just 415 yards and two touchdowns with one interception (a pick-six) in his last three games. He failed to get the ball into the hands of his open receivers, including second-year wideout DeMario Douglas, who expressed frustration with Sunday's loss to San Francisco.

Maye made his brief NFL debut at the end of the Patriots' Week 3 loss to the New York Jets. The third overall draft pick was 4 for 8 for 22 yards and was sacked twice behind the team's struggling offensive line.

Even though the offense is dysfunctional, the Patriots have a chance to prevail against a struggling Miami Dolphins team this Sunday. The Dolphins, who also have a 1-3 record, will start third-string quarterback Tyler Huntley in their Week 5 matchup.

Pats-Dolphins kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.

Watch the full Early Edition discussion below or on YouTube: