Reporter reveals what coaches thought of Malik Cunningham

New England Patriots offensive deal with Trent Brown raised eyebrows when he lately instructed Sophie Weller of A to Z Sports activities that “all people on the staff” believed undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham deserved an actual probability to play quarterback for the membership earlier than the Baltimore Ravens signed Cunningham earlier this month. 

In response to NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, the breaking level contained in the Patriots locker room could have occurred throughout or after New England’s 34-0 residence loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. 

“I’ll inform you this: I heard from coaches after the Saints sport,” Perry defined, in keeping with Patriots beat reporter Dakota Randall of NESN. “So, two blowouts in a row, dangerous quarterback play. And I had coaches say to me, ‘We’d as properly strive Malik at this level. What do we’ve to lose?’ And so, that will have been reflective of a better portion of the locker room than possibly I used to be keen to present credit score to on the time.”

Week 1 beginning quarterback Mac Jones was benched in the course of the Week 4 38-3 defeat towards the Dallas Cowboys and once more versus the Saints, however Cunningham surprisingly recorded solely six offensive snaps towards the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. Extra lately, Bailey Zappe served as New England’s QB1 over the previous three video games and presumably will stay atop the depth chart by way of Week 18. Zappe went 1-2 because the Patriots fell to 3-11. 

“I feel when you consider simply how a lot assist there was for him, and all we heard about Malik Cunningham after the very fact, I do suppose there was actual, real love for the man’s ability set right here,” Perry added. “Primarily based on, mainly, what they noticed from him in observe.”

It stays unknown if Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft will make wholesale adjustments that embody the departure of legendary head coach Invoice Belichick this winter. No matter Belichick’s future past the continued season, it appears his dealing with of Cunningham rubbed some throughout the group the flawed method.