Bailey Zappe ready to compete for starting job

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has refused to say who the starting quarterback will be come September and rumors have been swirling all offseason that Mac Jones is on the outs with the team. The potential savior? Bailey Zappe. Zappe says he's ready for the challenge come training camp.

Bailey Zappe spoke today between drills as the @PatsFoundation held a youth football clinic at Naval Station Newport. He was asked by @NBC10_Joe about his mindset entering OTA’a and competing at quarterback. pic.twitter.com/VB1Lz7tRsf

— Bob Socci (@BobSocci) April 12, 2023

Zappe played four games last season and you could argue that he looked better amidst the Matt Patricia Experiment than Jones did. Zappe threw five touchdowns and three interceptions, with a 100.9 passer rating.

It's a small sample size, but if the Patriots are serious about opening up a competition this summer, Zappe is ready for it.

More qb news:

• Adam Schefter said on his podcast that an Aaron Rodgers trade doesn't seem likely before the draft. While both the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers intend for Rodgers to be on the Jets' roster in 2023, Rodgers' massive contract and the proper compensation appear to be the reason for the holdup.
  • Speaking of the Packers, what will life be like in Green Bay sans Rodgers? Offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins says it'll be noticeably different, but they should be fine. "Obviously 12 is a Hall of Fame player and we don't know what we're going to get out of Jordan [Love], but either way it goes, I feel like going forward, we'll be good."
    

• Bryce Young is the current betting favorite to be the No. 1 pick.
  
  • Young visited with the Houston Texans on Wednesday.
    

• Kentucky QB Will Levis met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday and will head up one state to meet with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. Levis has visited most QB-needy teams. The Falcons currently have the No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
  

• Arizona Cardinals backup QB Colt McCoy is expected to be limited in offseason work, due to a procedure he had this offseason. Head coach Jonathan Gannon gave an update this week. "Colt, he's doing great. He gets a little extra work here and there but he's ready to go." McCoy's health is important due to starter Kyler Murray still recovering from last year's torn ACL.
  
  • As far as McCoy's next job once he's done with football? USFL has hired him as an analyst. McCoy said, "I have to study up on the rules - their rules are a little bit different - and I have to learn the players, the coaches, the teams. It's a little bit different than what we do in the NFL, but I'm excited, and I think it's a great opportunity working with some great people at NBC."