Scott Zolak is not a fan of Dan Orlovsky’s take on Drake Maye and the Patriots
"We're in La-la land if you think that's a possibility here," Zolak said of Orlovsky's take on Maye.
Scott Zolak’s rant about the Drake Maye discussion: Among the many possibilities for the Patriots in the upcoming draft is the potential of selecting North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick. Maye is seen as a prospect with great potential, but possibly not a day-one starter.
One of the prominent analysts to voice this take was ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who recently said in an interview with Rich Eisen that, “If New England takes [Maye] and expects him to play right away, that gives me agita thinking about it, because I want that young man to sit for a year or two, refine that lower half, and then unleash like Green Bay did.”
It was a reference to what the Packers did drafting Jordan Love in 2020 and not making him the starter until this past season (in which he successfully led Green Bay to the playoffs).
Scott Zolak, another former quarterback — and local media presence — took strong issue with Orlovsky’s take. Pointing out that Green Bay already had a Hall of Fame quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) as an entrenched starter when Love was drafted, Zolak noted that the Patriots are a very different scenario.
New England, with major question marks at quarterback, would have a harder time drafting a player only to bench him for potentially multiple seasons.
“If I’m picking him at three, he’s my quarterback,” said Zolak, firmly. “We’re off and running. Get him ready, [Alex] Van Pelt. Get him ready, [Ben] McAdoo.”
Zolak explained that May shouldn’t be in consideration for the third pick if he isn’t potentially able to play in his rookie season. He elaborated on how this is especially true in context of New England’s current roster.
“I’m not sitting here, putting him under the microscope, and nitpicking his feet. [They] are a desperate offensive football team,” Zolak said of the Patriots. “From people that I’ve talked to and people that you hear, they feel offensively they need seven to nine potential new players.”
Zolak acknowledged that if New England traded back from the third pick and selected a quarterback later in the first round — as was the case with Love — it would be more comparable (and allowable to let him sit on the bench for a season or two).
“It feels like you’re having to talk yourself into taking Drake Maye at three, and I don’t like that,” said Zolak.
In a post-Bill Belichick world, Zolak simply wants the Patriots to have a plan and try to execute it.
“Do it with conviction. Don’t hesitate at three,” he said. “That would be the worst thing you could do for a team that needs to get their act together.”
And just when it seemed like he’d cooled down from the rant, Zolak opened up again.
“We don’t have that luxury around here,” he added of the possibility of sitting Maye. “You’re the New England Patriots. You have to get back [to contention]. You just let the greatest coach and the greatest quarterback walk out of here, and now you’re in a transition mode and you’ve got to get back.
“The luxury to draft a guy at three — a quarterback — and sit him. What world are we living in?” Zolak questioned. “We’re in La-la land if you think that’s a possibility here. Good luck with that.”
Here’s the full clip:
Scores and schedules:
The Revolution survived a tentative start to dismantle Alajuelense 4-0 at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 matchup. New England will play the return leg in Costa Rica next Thursday.
PWHL Boston also played on Wednesday, falling 3-1 to Toronto.
The Bruins host the Maple Leafs tonight at 7 p.m.
Also tonight, the Celtics face the Nuggets in Denver at 10 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- 3 takeaways from the Revolution’s 4-0 Champions Cup win over Alajuelense
- PWHL Boston pours it on late but falls at Toronto, 3-1
- Carles Gil signs two-year contract extension with Revolution
- 8 forwards the Bruins could target before NHL trade deadline
- Patriots have reportedly ‘expressed interest’ in star cornerback
- Chris Simms offers harsh critique of potential Patriots pick Drake Maye
- ‘There is easier days than others’: Gisele Bündchen on co-parenting with ex-Tom Brady
- Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz to throw first pitch, and other details about the Red Sox’ weekend in the Dominican Republic
- ‘The Dynasty’ director explains why Patriots’ early Super Bowl wins didn’t get much airtime
- Matthew Judon said the Patriots have ‘new life’ in the building after Bill Belichick’s exit
- Report: Peyton Manning is recruiting Bill Belichick for media gig with Omaha Productions
New England native comes through in the clutch: On a night in San Diego when rainy conditions made the game almost unplayable, the United States and Canada went to penalty kicks to decide the Women’s Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday night.
And while U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was technically at fault for the last-minute penalty in extra time (which Canada converted) that sent the game to penalty kicks, the Connecticut native responded by willing her team to victory.
Having already made two saves, she stepped up and calmly scored on a penalty herself (an unusual move for a goalkeeper).
Naeher than clinched the win with her third save, sending the U.S. on to play Brazil in the final on Sunday.
On this day: In 2016, the Bruins defeated the Panthers 5-4 in overtime thanks to a Lee Stempniak goal. Boston jumped out to a 4-1 first period lead thanks to a pair of Patrice Bergeron goals, but Florida rallied to force OT.
During the game, NHL legend Jaromír Jágr (who also had a brief tenure in Boston) moved past Gordie Howe into third place on the all-time points list.
Daily highlight: Yasmim gave Brazil a commanding 3-0 lead in the other Women’s Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday with an exquisite back-heeled finish.
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