Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells has been keeping tabs on Jacoby Brissett since he was a teenager.
And now that his young protege is about to make his NFL starting debut (we think) against the Texans on Thursday, Parcells’ nickname for Brissett has become a prophecy.
According to Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com, Parcells has referred to the Patriots rookie as “One Snap” when they text back and forth since he was drafted in the third round, referring to the amount of time any non-starter has to prepare to be thrust into a responsible role.
“That’s a message. He understood it,” Parcells said of Brissett. “I was trying to put his ears up like a German Shepherd. Put your ears up; you are only one snap from playing. Sure enough, it happened.”
It’s perhaps not an accident the Patriots drafted Brissett, because Parcells-protege Bill Belichick shares many values with his old boss. Parcells said he felt like an “expectant father” awaiting Dwyer’s chance to start. Parcells first met Brissett when he was playing at Dwyer High in Florida (near Parcells’ winter home in Jupiter), and the legendary coach took an immediate liking to the quarterback, saying: “He is tremendously dedicated, tremendously committed and he is smart.”
Now, he gets to prove it, on a short week for one of toughest taskmasters in the league. But that’s how Parcells wants it for Brissett.
“I am glad that he is with Bill Belichick,” Parcells said. “Because I know that gives him the best chance for success. I’m not going into an exposé about that. I’m just telling you I’m glad he is there, and I think Bill gives him an excellent opportunity to be successful.”
He’s already proven to be able to respond in a snap once, but the challenge for Brissett will be much different this week.