Joe Milton III's Troubled Tenure: A Tale of Disrespect and Unfulfilled Ambitions
The story of Joe Milton III's time with the Patriots is a controversial one, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Milton, the former backup quarterback, has opened up about his less-than-ideal experience with the organization, specifically calling out then-coach Jerod Mayo for what he perceived as a lack of respect.
But here's where it gets intriguing: Milton felt disgruntled about the team's depth chart management during the 2024 season. He believed that Jacoby Brissett, the veteran quarterback, should have been demoted to the third-string role when Drake Maye took over as the starter. Instead, Brissett remained as the second-string quarterback, which Milton saw as a sign of disrespect towards him.
Milton's journey with the Patriots began when they drafted him in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, while Maye was their third overall pick. Both Milton and Maye competed for the starting role with Brissett, who already had eight seasons of experience. Brissett started the season but was eventually replaced by Maye in Week 6, leading the Patriots to a successful Super Bowl run.
Milton's frustration grew as he only started one game that season, a win over the Bills that ironically cost the Patriots the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He described a practice moment where he threw a deep pass and, instead of celebrating the completion, turned to stare at Coach Mayo, a sign of the tension between them.
The situation escalated, and the Patriots, under new leadership with Mike Vrabel, traded Milton and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick. NFL insider Greg Bedard's report labeled Milton as a problematic player, and another report suggested he wanted out if the Patriots didn't give him a fair shot at the starting role.
Milton's move to the Cowboys, with Dak Prescott as the established quarterback, resulted in limited playing time. This begs the question: Was Milton's treatment by the Patriots fair, or is there more to the story? Share your thoughts on this complex NFL drama in the comments below!
