Browns QB Brissett set for reunion with Patriots, Belichick

Tom Withers

CLEVELAND – Jacoby Brissett looks back fondly on his rookie season with New England, where he was thrust into a starting job, was schooled in the Patriot Way as one of Tom Brady’s understudies and won a Super Bowl.

Bill Belichick traded him the following year.

“MywelcometotheNFLmoment,”he said this week with a laugh.

At least it wasn’t his last one.

Brissett may experience some flashbacks Sunday against a New England team with a current QB situation similar to the one it had in 2016 as Belichick brings the Patriots (2-3) in to face the Browns (2-3), whose season seems at a crossroads in Week 6.

After being drafted in the third round by New England, Brissett rocketed up the depth chart and started the season’s first two games for Belichick when Brady was suspended by the NFL for the “Deflategate” scandal and Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt.

Although he was only there one season – he got traded to Indianapolis the following year – Brissett remains grateful for the early opportunity to play for arguably the best coach and with the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

“A lot of good memories,” he said. “I got my first start there. Some of the guys there are still on the team, so I know those guys. Obviously, great coached. Good players, good vets, good guys who understand the system that they’ve been running for a while, so yeah, a really good team.”

While reflecting on his time with the Patriots, Brissett couldn’t help but notice how his circumstance mirrored what’s going on in New England now.

“It brought back a couple of memories, for sure,” he said.

With starter Mac Jones (ankle) and backup Brian Hoyer (concussion) slowed by injuries, Belichick has turned to No. 3 quarterback Bailey Zappe, a fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky.

Zappe played well in his first start