by That’s a far cry from Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, or even Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte.
Regardless, the Patriots selected two quarterbacks this year. Drake Maye, third overall. Joe Milton III, 193rd.
Last night at Gillette Stadium, the sixth-round pick taken six spots ahead of Brady created more buzz than Maye.
On two carries last night, Milton completed four of six passes for 54 yards and a 38 yard touchdownand he added 22 rushing yards, including a a race that showed his running skills.
After the game, coach Jerod Mayo was asked if he was ready for the talk-radio fever that Milton’s debut would generate.
“I don’t even listen to that stuff,” Mayo told reporters. “But honestly, Joe went out there. We know he’s got a big arm. He’s got the athleticism. He’s getting better and better at reading the ball. He’s got a natural leadership ability. But again, it’s not just about the game; it’s about the whole job. You can come out here and play well, but you’ve got to do it every day, in practice, and you’ve got to earn the trust of not only the coaches but your teammates. And that was a step up for him.”
Milton was pleased with his performance.
“I had a great time,” Milton told reporters. “It’s a blessing. You know, a lot of people where I come from dream of being in this situation, so just go out there and enjoy it. It means a lot to me. Me, my family and obviously my teammates. My night was — my day itself was pretty quiet. Just the calm before the storm, that’s how I look at it. I went home, walked my dog like I always do on a regular basis. I sat in bed and looked at the call sheet. I try not to think too much and study it too much. Once I have it, I have it. Before the game, I might look at it a few more times, but other than that, I just trust the guys to do their job and I trust that I’m going to do my job and that coach is going to make the right decision at all times.”
Milton’s style is somewhat laid-back, which makes him even more interesting as an option to play at some point, for the Patriots or another team.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season or the last game of the season, I think the more relaxed you are, the more calm your mind is and not foggy, the more you’re yourself, no matter what,” Milton said. “I have a big personality, I’m going to show my personality every chance I get. What I want to do is make sure everybody’s smiling. Every day. Day in and day out. Make sure everybody’s smiling day in and day out. I’m just going to go out there and tell the guys, ‘Listen man, you don’t have to be cocky, just have fun, talk, talk some silly stuff.’ That’s football. At the end of the day, it’s football, so no matter what you do, you go out there and have fun, you work and you do the things your coach has asked you to do throughout the week. That’s going to make you have fun.” Having fun and showing my personality is all I love to do.”
Milton also expressed appreciation for the praise he receives from coach Jerod Mayo.
“I heard that from the head coach, but I feel like I still have a lot of work to do,” Milton said. “There’s a lot of things I have to learn offensively, and I have to learn fast. The only way to get here is to be myself. Credit to Coach Mayo for telling me that, but I feel like I still have a lot of work to do, I have to keep studying. I can’t rest on my laurels no matter how good the game was tonight. You just have to be able to wipe it all away, put it in the books and get ready for the next game.”
It’s clear the Patriots believe Drake Maye is the future. Otherwise, they would have accepted a trade offer from the Giants or Vikings for the chance to draft him. But they may have something to offer Milton, and it might make sense for them to find a way to get him on the field in specialized packages, or even in a Taysom Hill-type role.
While Milton has ruled out playing another position, he’d certainly be happy to play. And who knows? Maybe if the top-three pick goes poorly, the sixth-round pick will be ready to take charge.
No one in New England could ever dismiss such an outcome as implausible.
