The New England Patriots are taking a major step into the future this week, as they plan to start No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye at quarterback against the Houston Texans.
The move appears to be a response to the struggles the team has had this season, losing four games in a row after a season-opening win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been hit hard, playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Many fans and analysts have urged the team to use caution with Maye, as they don't want to see him suffer the same fate.
With Maye set to start this week, one longtime Patriots fan and sports media personality is calling the team out.
"I was feeling all good about the fact I'm not a Jets fan and then my stupid [expletive team, who didn't start Drake Maye last week against the Dolphins who suck," Simmons said in a video posted on Tuesday.
"It would have been the perfect spot to play him even if the offensive line is terrible, at least you're getting his feet wet against probably the other worst team in the league, except for Carolina."
Simmons criticized the team for putting Maye on the field behind a bad offensive line, and in front of one of the league's best defenses.
"You wait a week, oh it turns out that Jacoby Brissett is still terrible," Simmons continued.
"Wow, we had no evidence of that. And then a week later, guess what they do? They start Drake Maye. Against Houston's defense, which is one of the top five or six scariest defenses and they can really rush the passer."
Simmons said that the Patriots are currently in the worst state they've been in since Victor Kiam owned the team in the late 1980s. The Patriots only finished above .500 once in his four seasons of ownership, and they appear to be headed for another poor finish this season.
There's still time for Maye to help turn the season around, but it seems that New England is simply ready to see what they have in their top draft pick.
For fans like Simmons, it seems that the decision was made without considering the obstacles the new quarterback would face in his first game.
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