QB Bailey Zappe reportedly BLINDSIDED by Patriots HC Bill Belichick’s decision to cut him
Zappe and his camp were left in awe by the announcement.
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Bailey Zappe was surprised to hear that New England Patriots cut him from their 53-man roster (Image via IMAGO)
Bailey Zappe had a strong preseason, playing all three games and completing 30 out of 51 passes. So it came as a surprise when the New England Patriots did not include him on their 53-man roster and only chose to keep Mac Jones as their designated quarterback.
Jones’ is a no-brainer considering he is Bill Belichick‘s current favorite. But to see Zappe be let go was surprising, not only for the Patriots faithful but also for the player himself.
According to Evan Lazar, a longtime Patriot reporter, Zappe’s camp was left scratching their heads following the August 29 news. Lazar revealed that one of the insiders told him, as per Sports Illustrated, “We were as blindsided as you.”
However, Zappe wasn’t the only casualty. Rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham was let go despite showing promise in the preseason.
Bailey Zappe signed with the New England Patriots practice squad
As the new NFL season is less than 10 days away, fans wonder who will be the backup for Mac Jones. They breathed a sigh of relief after NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport shared that former Panthers third-round pick Matt Corral is set to be the backup. Not only that, the Patriots reinstated Bailey Zappe to their squad for added depth.
“Mac Jones, still the starter on the 53-man roster, but he is no longer the only quarterback,” Rapoport said. “My understanding is that Corral and Zappe will compete for the backup job.”
Considering all the quarterbacks in the New England locker room are young, they will require Zappe’s 2022 season experience. Even though he only played four games, his presence is a reassurance that if something happens to Jones, he or Corral can step up.
But who is Matt Corral? The 24-year-old is an Ole Miss graduate, for whom he threw 8281 yards and 57 touchdowns in four seasons. He spent the 2022 season on the Panthers injured list. Despite making their 53-man roster for the upcoming season, he was waived on August 30. The New England Patriots claimed him off waivers the following day.
Now the ball is in Bill Belichick’s court. He will start with Mac Jones for the most part. But the talking point is how he or the new offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien, will perform this season. The former Alabama OC will look to bring back the magic that helped the college football team reach the National Championship final. The Patriots kick off their 2023 campaign against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 11.
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Ishan Misra
(3090 Articles Published)