[jwplayer SDfhLarL-ThvAeFxT]
Mixed reviews have floated around in regards to the New England Patriots’ culture and military-like approach during the Bill Belichick era.
Players outside of the organization have spoke out about the lack of fun in Foxborough, and people inside the organization oftentimes speak glowingly of their experience. Jacoby Brissett, who spent his rookie year with the team, didn’t have any desire to go near the organization after his pre-draft visit.
He joined the Devin and Jason McCourty’s podcast on Sunday night and shed light on an extremely intriguing story.
“I honestly did not want to be there,” Brissett said, transcribed by NESN’s Zack Cox. “When I took my visit there — my pre-draft visit — I was like, ‘Hell no. If one team drafts me, it better not be them.’ And I’ll never forget, Josh (McDaniels) called me on the phone on draft night and I didn’t have his number saved. That’s how bad it was — I didn’t even have his number saved in my phone. I was like, ‘Damn man.'”
Then I get there — everybody’s like, ‘Man, it’s New England’ — and then you just meet some of the dudes on the team, like you (Devin McCourty). That’s when (Terrance) Knighton was on the team and Anthony Johnson and Martellus (Bennett), and it was just fun, man. I’ve never been around so many older dudes that were so young, you know? And one of the main things that I learned was just how to be a pro.”
We would laugh in the locker room and decompress when we’re not doing football stuff, but when we were in football — everybody thinks it’s like the military — we were locked and loaded. And there was no game where we felt like, ‘Damn, this team might beat us.’ Coming from a different team, you’re just like, ‘Damn, the confidence here is just crazy.’ I mean, Super Bowl game, all I remember Duron (Harmon) on the bike at halftime, like, laughing. I’m like, ‘Man, Duron’s got to do something. We’re losing.’ (laughs) I’m like, ‘Shit, we finna lose. We’ve got $100k (winner’s bonus) on the line.'”
Brissett started two games for the Patriots and subbed in for a hurt Jimmy Garoppolo — who was replacing a suspended Tom Brady. Brissett’s time in New England was short, but it helped turn him into the starting quarterback with the Indianapolis Colts.
[vertical-gallery id=90105]