Yesterday, the Patriots waived both Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham, leaving fans befuddled as to why the team had Mac Jones as their sole quarterback on the roster. For the first time that I can remember, even RapSheet was confused:
After cutting Cunningham and Zappe, there were seemingly no QB’s to be Mac’s insurance or competition, so fans began speculating as to whom the Pats were targeting to bring in. With no solid options available on the market, and with the seemingly insurmountable hype surrounding the inter-division elder statesman Aaron Rodgers, some pathetic, deranged, and heartbroken fans had only one person (or should I say hero) on their minds.
What a sad, sad individual you’d have to be to continue to think that Tom Brady will come back for one final ride…couldn’t be me.
But, as quickly as the quarterback controversy arose in New England, it disappeared just as fast. Today, the Patriots’ QB situation got a new update:
So…both players are back, and nothing seems to have changed. You may be asking yourself, “Why do this?” and “Aren’t practice squad players unable to play? What if Mac gets hurt mid-game?”. Solid questions guys, but what you’re failing to consider is the mastermind that is Bill Belichick. You see, Bill will find a way to manipulate the rulebook any way he can to gain a competitive advantage, and in this particular case, the rule he will abuse is the “emergency QB” rule.
If you are unaware, the “emergency QB” rule was voted on and instituted earlier this summer by league owners. At heart, this rule is in place to bring to an end situations like last year’s NFC Championship game, where the 49ers were forced to play QB-less after Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson left the game with injuries. The “emergency QB” will be a player who isn’t accounted for in the 46-man active (dressed) rosters, but will be eligible to play if the starter is knocked out of the game. A similar rule is in place in the NHL with “emergency goalies”, but normally an NHL roster carries only one backup goalie as opposed to the usual two backup QBs in the NFL. What Sith Lord Belichick is doing here is using the rule to bypass having any extra QBs on the Pats’ active roster, allowing an extra player to take a roster spot.
As for who that roster spot will go to, your guess is as good as mine. The likely options are offensive linemen or defensive backs, but with the recent Nick Folk trade and the uncertainty of the Patriot’s fourth-round pick, kicker Chad Ryland, hell, we might even see that bonus roster spot tossed up to a special teamer. I don’t think there’s a move more Belichickian than that.
So, we are a week and a half away from the Patriots’ first game, and there are still many questions left to be answered about the starting lineup and what it will look like on day one against the Eagles. The good news is, if anything happens, we’ll update you with all the information and maybe even some inside scoops (probably not, but why not hope?). To stay up on that news, follow us on Twitter @a2zsportstakes, and sign up for our email list to get notified each time a new article goes live!
BONUS VIDEO
I saw this video today on Twitter, which is funny in its own right, but it reminded me of my favorite food-related Red Sox broadcasting moment in history:
Here comes the Pizza!
Don Orsilo and Jerry Remy; A combo that cemented itself into the 2000’s Red Sox culture, for countless moments like this one. RIP Jerry Remy.