In a surprising turn of events as they trimmed their roster to 53 players, the New England Patriots have made noteworthy decisions, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Patriots have waived backup quarterback Bailey Zappe, a move that comes as a surprise given Zappe’s previous contributions to the team.



Additionally, Jeff Howe of TheAthletic.com reports that Malik Cunningham, who had taken snaps at quarterback during the summer, has also been waived. As a result of these moves, the Patriots’ quarterback lineup is now centered solely around Mac Jones, as the team previously cut Trace McSorley on Monday, leaving them with limited options at the position.



Bailey Zappe, a fourth-round pick in the previous year’s draft, showcased promise during his rookie season by participating in four games with two starts. He displayed solid performance by completing 71 percent of his passes, accumulating 781 passing yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions, culminating in an impressive 100.9 passer rating.



<h2>Patriots’ Quarterback Situation Faces Uncertainty After Surprising Roster Decisions</h2>



However, it was the preseason performances what ultimately led to their releases. Zappe completed 59 percent of his passes for 253 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions, evidently not securing his position as the Patriots’ No. 2 quarterback for the upcoming 2023 season.



Malik Cunningham, an undrafted free agent hailing from Louisville, also faced an unexpected exit from the team. While his passing and rushing attempts showcased his versatility, including 3-of-6 passing for 19 yards and 39 rushing yards on six carries, it appears that his contributions were not enough to secure a roster spot.



With only one quarterback, the Patriots are now presented with the task of scouring the waiver wire and exploring potential trades in order to secure a backup for Mac Jones in the coming days. These surprising moves have injected an element of uncertainty into the Patriots’ quarterback situation, and everyone will be watching closely as the team navigates this unexpected context.

Patriots Make Unexpected Roster Moves: Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham Waived

Patriots Make Unexpected Roster Moves: Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham Waived - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

According to <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/top-4-most-disappointing-free-agent-nfl-signings-over-the-last-5-years-20230316-SPD-3499.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bill Belichick</a>, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-top-3-most-likely-destinations-for-nick-chubb-20230313-SPD-3494.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mac Jones</a> is not certain to be the Patriots’ starting quarterback in 2023. The former first-round selection may no longer have a secure roster berth. 



Belichick reportedly is still furious with Jones about his choice to seek outside counsel in 2022, even though New England reportedly wants to maintain developing around the QB in front of the QB’s third season. Moreover, the coach has reportedly led the charge this summer in an attempt to move Jones, as reported by ProFootballTalk.



The 24-year-old was once a first-round pick and a Pro Bowler, but he still wouldn’t get much in return if he were traded. In case the Patriots choose to make a change at quarterback, here are three possible future destinations for Jones, as per CBS Sports.



<h2>3. Washington Commanders</h2>



Washington has settled with lackluster 2023 choices up to this point, counting on 2022 rookie Sam Howell to knock over veteran No. 2 Jacoby Brissett, despite coach Ron Rivera’s periodic complaints about their struggle to establish a reliable signal-caller. 



To get a top quarterback prospect with the 16th overall pick, they’d have to make a significant leap. Since Jones would be in the team’s control for the next three years, he would provide them with some much-needed competition.



<h2>2. Tennessee Titans</h2>



The Titans have been scouting every top quarterback prospect in the draft, despite the fact that incumbent Ryan Tannehill has been praised by many. Jones is a Patriots fan like head coach Mike Vrabel and would cost far less than Tannehill, who may still be the Week 1 starter. Since the club has already investigated Brady, it seems reasonable for them to think about who might replace him.



<h2>1. Las Vegas Raiders</h2>



After trading away Derek Carr in the offseason, Josh McDaniels restocked the Patriots’ quarterback room with Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer. Due to his close links to the team’s management, Jones may not be activated until 2025, the last year of his rookie contract.



As Belichick’s director of player personnel at the time, general Dave Ziegler picked him 15th overall when Josh McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator. With the seventh overall pick, the Raiders have an opportunity to make a splash at quarterback and then pivot to give McDaniels another veteran who can succeed in his system.

Top 3 most likely destinations for Mac Jones in case of Patriots exit

Top 3 most likely destinations for Mac Jones in case of Patriots exit - thesportsdrops NEWS

To suggest that <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/top-3-most-likely-destinations-for-aaron-rodgers-in-case-of-packers-exit-20230223-SPD-3430.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jimmy Garoppolo</a> isn’t a major player in the NFL would be an understatement. A counterargument may be that the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl-rings-how-many-nfl-titles-have-the-patriots-won-20230219-SPD-3423.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Francisco 49ers</a>‘ quarterback isn’t the worst option.



In either case, the Niners will have to choose between Trey Lance and Brock Purdy for the next season. The likelihood of the 31-year-old’s return to the Bay Area is low given their desire to trade him.



Having eliminated one of Jimmy Garoppolo’s prospective destinations, we can focus on the other three teams that would be the best fit for him at this stage in his career.



<h2>3. New York Jets</h2>



Speculation about a possible deal between Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets has been rife for some time. If they are unable to get the Green Bay Packers’ superstar via a trade, they have Derek Carr in mind as a backup plan.



But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from looking back through time, it’s that the Jets seldom succeed in getting what they want. If that happens again this summer, they may have to consider Jimmy Garoppolo as an option.



<h2>2. New England Patriots</h2>



Reports indicate that the New England Patriots are beginning to have doubts about Mac Jones’ viability as the team’s starting quarterback. During his sophomore year, he took a step backward and was even taken off the field for a game.



Coach Belichick has always spoken highly of Jimmy G. It’s worth noting that he reportedly wanted to sell Tom Brady to the 49ers in order to retain Jimmy Garoppolo, so he may end up back with the Patriots in some capacity.



<h2>1. Carolina Panthers</h2>



The Carolina Panthers might need a new quarterback as Sam Darnold enters the last year of his contract. When Darnold was cut and then reinstated to the starting lineup last year, nothing is set in stone.



It’s clear that Matt Corral isn’t quite ready to take charge, so Frank Reich will have to weigh his alternatives. As such, Garoppolo might serve as a suitable fill-in for the next season or two.

Top 3 most likely destinations for Jimmy Garoppolo in case of 49ers exit - thesportsdrops NEWS

Top 3 most likely destinations for Jimmy Garoppolo in case of 49ers exit

On Wednesday, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-return-to-buccaneers-and-four-other-options-for-tom-brady-20230118-SPD-3332.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Brady</a> announced his retirement from the National Football League. As a player for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/there-was-no-respect-there-ryan-fitzpatrick-reveals-why-tom-brady-annoys-him-2769-20220916-SPD-2769.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New England Patriots</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-tom-brady-could-retire-for-good-in-2023-if-bucaneers-win-super-bowl-2204-20220714-SPD-2204.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>, the GOAT provided fans with many memorable moments over the course of 23 seasons.



The 45-year-social old’s media video retirement announcement was his second consecutive year away from the sport of football. However, this retirement, according to Brady, is “for real” as opposed to the temporary retirement he took last year (which lasted just 40 days).



If this is it for Brady, he will go down in history as the greatest of all time. He leaves the league with several throwing records, including the most in Super Bowl victories, playoff victories, yards, and touchdown passes. Listed below are the four highlights of his professional career.



<h2>4. First Super Bowl victory</h2>



After Drew Bledsoe was injured in 2001, Brady was thrust into the starting lineup. However, at this stage in his career, he was still simply a game manager, and thus, very few people thought that the former sixth-round selection and a strong Patriots defense had a chance against the then-St. Louis Rams and the “Greatest Show on Turf.” In retrospect, it’s clear that Super Bowl XXXVI was only the first of many reminders of why it’s a bad idea to write off Brady



After scoring 14 unanswered points to make the score 17-17 with under a minute to play, the Rams seemed to have momentum on their side. Brady has no intention of postponing his Super Bowl party because of the extra time. The then-second-year professional displayed remarkable composure, completing five of eight throws, and setting the stage for Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal as time expired, giving the Patriots their first Super Bowl victory.



<h2>3. Return to New England</h2>



Every Patriots fan marked October 3, 2021, on their calendars when Brady departed New England. It was Brady’s first home game in Foxborough since his return. It was hoped that this game would allow fans to finally watch Tom Brady go up against Bill Belichick, who has been Brady’s coach for most of his career.



When Tom Brady made his first trip to Gillette Stadium as an opponent, New England fans got to see him one final time. During the thrilling victory, Brady set a new mark for throwing yards. With the 19-17 victory against Bill Belichick’s club, Brady joined an exclusive group of just three other quarterbacks in NFL history who had defeated each of the league’s 32 teams.



<h2>2. Seventh and final Super Bowl victory</h2>



Some speculated that Brady will hand over the reins to a younger star in Super Bowl LV. In any case, Brady’s game-winning effort served as a timely reminder that he was, indeed, the greatest quarterback of all time. While Mahomes struggled, the veteran quarterback was perfect, leading the team to a 31-9 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.



As of the 2020 season, Brady’s seven Super Bowl victories gave him more Lombardi Trophies than any NFL franchise. After 20 seasons in New England, the quarterback startled the sports world by announcing he was leaving for a new team, where he promptly won the Super Bowl



<h2>1. 2016-17 Super Bowl LI</h2>



By the middle of the third quarter, the Patriots were down 25 points to the Atlanta Falcons, and it seemed like Brady had shown his human side. While the signal-caller may have been brought to earth in the first half, by the time the confetti had settled, they had achieved almost mythological status.



Brady was flawless as he led the Patriots to a 28-28 tie with two minutes remaining in regulation. This is the best comeback by the greatest ever. Brady attained sports immortality by creating a moment that can be internationally remembered with just one simple phrase: “28-3.” This was the crowning achievement in a long series of honors, awards, and victories for Brady.

Top 4 best moments of Tom Brady's NFL career

Top 4 best moments of Tom Brady's NFL career - thesportsdrops NEWS

After a miserable 31-14 defeat to the Cowboys on Monday night, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-tom-brady-could-retire-for-good-in-2023-if-bucaneers-win-super-bowl-2204-20220714-SPD-2204.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Brady</a> and the Buccaneers’ playoff hopes for this year are officially over. This was just Brady’s fourth one-and-done performance in his 23 seasons as an NFL starting quarterback, and the loss was the second most lopsided of his career. 



The 45-year-old told reporters he would ‘take it one day at a time’ in the wake of Monday’s defeat, being characteristically evasive. Being a free agent, this season marked Brady’s third season with the Bucs, and it very well may have been his last, either by the team’s or his own decision.



It’s possible that Brady may revisit his old stomping grounds in Tampa. It’s possible he’ll look for a new team to play for. He even could decide to call it quits at some point once again. In any case, what choices does he have? Let’s find out.



<h2>Return to Buccaneers</h2>



It’s no secret that Brady gets along well with the team’s higher-ups, especially the Glazer family, who own the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/tom-brady-takes-leave-from-buccaneers-until-august-20-for-personal-matters-2506-20220811-SPD-2506.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buccaneers</a> and helped lure Brady away from the Patriots in 2020. Compared to other NFL locales, Tampa, Florida, must be a lot more pleasant now that he’s reached the end of his career. And he leaves behind a short but significant legacy as a Buccaneer, ending a decade of club irrelevance with an MVP-caliber championship run.



<h2>Join Jets</h2>



Currently, the Jets’ sole evident need is for a veteran quarterback. Meanwhile, Brady’s arrival would instantly restore respectability to a locker room that cheered Zach Wilson’s demotion that year. For the most part, what’s holding things up is whether or not the Jets would rather have a somewhat longer-term potential.



<h2>Go back to Patriots</h2>



Despite the general public’s disapproval, here is where Brady made his mark, and he is still respected among his peers. The Patriots’ offense may be revamped without a financial problem. Mac Jones has to move over here and regain his bearings. It would also serve as a logical stepping stone for Brady’s eventual transition into full retirement.



<h2>Join Titans</h2>



Prior to re-signing Ryan Tannehill, the Titans explored a free-agent deal with Brady in 2020. The departure of general manager Jon Robinson and the hiring of coach Mike Vrabel gives the quarterback a chance to return to his roots as a quarterback.



<h2>Join 49ers</h2>



On paper, this seems like a match made in heaven: Brady grew up in the Bay Area and has always had a soft spot for the 49ers, and his ability to make split-second decisions and read the field effectively makes him a great fit for a system designed to get the ball to its playmakers as quickly as possible. However, the team may not be able to afford to change a winning recipe only to bring together a renowned name and a legendary team.

NFL: Return to Buccaneers and four other options for Tom Brady

NFL: Return to Buccaneers and four other options for Tom Brady - thesportsdrops NEWS

It took only six weeks in the 2022 NFL season for Bill Belichick to found yet another way to go down in the history books. On Sunday, the longtime <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/brian-hoyer-of-patriots-ruled-out-for-at-least-four-weeks-following-head-injury-20221006-SPD-2926.html">Patriots</a> head coach tied George Halas on career victories.



<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-julian-edelman-reveals-the-real-reason-behind-his-retirement-2604-20220826-SPD-2604.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New England</a>’s 38-15 victory over the Cleveland Browns was the 324th win in Belichick’s head coaching career, making him the second winningest coach in NFL history along the Bears legend – only below Don Shula (347).



Needless to say, it’s an important feat for Belichick, who now is on the brink of surpassing Halas to further reduce the gap with the Miami Dolphins icon. Belichick is obviously proud of this feat, but thinks the players he coached deserve the credit.



<h2>Bill Belichick credits players, staff for tying George Halas on career wins</h2>



“George Halas, Paul Brown, I probably shouldn’t make that list,” Belichick said, via ProFootballTalk. “They were my idols. Coach Halas was again a friend of my dad’s. My dad knew people on the staff that coached for Coach Halas. He coached Bill Wade at Vanderbilt, so they had a lot of Chicago-Halas connections. When they came to Baltimore, we would go to the locker room after the game, stuff like that. They were always very gracious and generous. They let me hang around and stuff like that. A ton of respect for Coach Halas and the McCaskey family, and what he did for professional football and the way that he – and since we’re here, Paul Brown – and others like that paved the way for us as coaches and paved the way for the National Football League to grow into what it is today. They laid a lot of the building blocks.



“You can’t win games in this league without good players. I’m very fortunate to have coached a lot of great players and have had a lot of great coaches on my staff through the years. A lot of those guys have gone on to have tremendous careers and players obviously – many of them are Patriots Hall of Fame or NFL Hall of Fame, or are going to be. Winning games in this league is about having good players and I’m very fortunate to have a lot of them. I had them in New York. I had them in Cleveland. I have them here.”

Patriots News: Bill Belichick knows who to thank for tying George Halas on career wins

Patriots News: Bill Belichick knows who to thank for tying George Halas on career wins - thesportsdrops NEWS

Multiple sources indicate that <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/how-kyle-shanahan-inspired-jimmy-garoppolo-george-kittle-for-49ers-mnf-win-over-rams-20221005-SPD-2905.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New England Patriots</a> quarterback <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/tua-tagovailoa-of-dolphins-discharged-from-hospital-after-head-and-neck-injury-scare-20221001-SPD-2873.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brian Hoyer</a> sustained a concussion in Sunday’s overtime defeat to the Green Bay Packers and has since been put on injured reserve by the team. Hoyer will miss at least the next four games due to injury, thus the earliest he might return would be in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots last regular season game before their bye in Week 10.



The Patriots started Hoyer in Week 4 because Mac Jones couldn’t play because of a severe ankle injury. He led the offense on a field goal drive, completing five of six throws for 37 yards, before suffering a concussion in the first half. It forced the rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe into action, and he finished the game 10 of 15 passing for 99 yards and a score.



Given Hoyer’s situation, it’s possible that Zappe may get the nod to start for the Patriots against the Lions on Sunday at Gillette Stadium. On both Wednesday and Thursday, Jones took part in limited practice and is allegedly trying to play this weekend. Things would also make sense for the Patriots to take it slow with their previous first-round choice.



<h2>Brian Hoyer expected to return for Week 9</h2>



With a 1-3 record through the first four games, New England finds itself in last place in the AFC East for the first time since Week 13 of the 2014 season. Under Bill Belichick’s leadership, this has only occurred once before, back in 2000.



These recent losses to the Patriots’ quarterback room make it much more difficult for them to get back into the postseason race at a time when their schedule is relatively easy.

Brian Hoyer of Patriots ruled out for at least four weeks following  head injury

Brian Hoyer of Patriots ruled out for at least four weeks following head injury - thesportsdrops NEWS

It is often believed that the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/super-bowl-champions-list-of-all-time-winners-215-20220503-SPD-215.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL</a> preseason doesn’t matter much to fans, and instead only coaches care about it to try and test their players before the real competition begins.



However, that’s not completely true. While the results are meaningless compared to the regular season, when things don’t look good in preseason, people start to worry. If not, look at the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-julian-edelman-reveals-the-real-reason-behind-his-retirement-2604-20220826-SPD-2604.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patriots</a>.



<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/tom-bradys-hilarious-confession-about-the-play-that-could-have-changed-his-career-484-20220506-SPD-484.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New England</a> has gone through many changes this offseason, and its offense doesn’t seem to be responding well. The Patriots decided not to name an Offensive Coordinator after Josh McDaniels left, which only creates even more doubts around the team. Joe Judge, however, doesn’t look worried.



<h2>Joe Judge not worried about Patriots’ offense</h2>



“I’m not a big guy to take one small clip of something and over magnify it,” Judge said, via Khari Thompson of Boston.com. “I say all the time, the NFL is a league of extremes. It’s one week, what’s the storyline. We’ve got a week in between the games, in this instance we have two weeks in between the games. So it’s what’s the storyline that’s going to run? You can’t chase that. You can’t chase the narratives. You’ve got to show up every day.



“There may be an adjustment here or there, just based on how we match up with something. But preseason games are really much more about getting out there and letting players play. It’s not really scheme heavy, it’s not about game-planning against the opponent. We had competitive practices last week against the Raiders. That’s a great opportunity to go out there and try new things, to work some things you’ve got in the playbook and see how they develop.”

NFL News: Joe Judge reacts to the concerns around the Patriots’ offense - thesportsdrops NEWS

NFL News: Joe Judge reacts to the concerns around the Patriots’ offense

Though Julian Edelman looked ready to come back for a 12th season in 2021 after being limited to only six games in 2020 due to a knee injury, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/tom-bradys-hilarious-confession-about-the-play-that-could-have-changed-his-career-484-20220506-SPD-484.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patriots</a> icon decided to step away only a few weeks before the Draft.



Back in the day, Edelman was one of the best wide receivers in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/tom-brady-super-bowl-rings-how-many-nfl-championships-has-the-quarterback-won-93-20220502-SPD-93.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFL</a>. He won four <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/super-bowl-champions-list-of-all-time-winners-215-20220503-SPD-215.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Super Bowl</a> rings and recorded 620 receptions for 6,822 yards and 36 touchdowns in 11 seasons.



However, when he noticed his level was not even close to the player he once was, Edelman made up his mind. In an appearance on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, he explained his decision.



<h2>Julian Edelman explains why he retired</h2>



“Atrocious. That’s honestly why I retired,” Edelman said about watching himself on film, via NBC Sports Boston. “When you start looking old — it’s not even just the games, it’s the practices, the body language. I mean, I wanted to throw up. That’s why I had to retire.



“When you’re a younger player — I remember you play a couple guys and they’re in their absolute prime when you’re still trying to figure things out. And then you figure things out and it’s like four or five years later, and that guy that you still are battling who was a badass dude has diminished — that’s blood in the water. I’m going to embarrass him every time. I’m going to try to light him up, because I remember how hard it was and how he used to embarrass me. The blood was in the water. Guys were going to come after me. I had to get out.”

New England Patriots