South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
QB Jacoby Brissett brings veteran presence to ’Fins
Brissett brings veteran presence in South Florida homecoming
MIAMI GARDENS — With Ryan Fitzpatrick no longer in Miami, there’s a new backup quarterback to Tua Tagovailoa and a new elder statesman in the Dolphins’ quarterback room, even though he’s only 28.
Jacoby Brissett brings five years of NFL experience in his South Florida homecoming to Miami. While it may not touch Fitzpatrick’s 16 seasons, among a group that includes Tagovailoa and fellow second-year pro Reid Sinnett, he’s the experienced veteran. Tagovailoa even referred to him as an “old head” at the start of Dolphins training camp.
“Shocking,” Brissett said, laughing. “I forget sometimes when I’m in there and I can see the 23-yearold (Tagovailoa) and the 28 — and that’s not even old, so don’t tell me I’m old.”
As the Dolphins look for Brissett to provide support for Tagovailoa and be a solid backup should he be called upon, the West Palm Beach native and former Dwyer High standout has been carving up Miami’s second-team secondary throughout camp, reading the defense well and crisply getting the ball to his targets downfield.
More important to coach Brian Flores, though, is Brissett’s presence in the locker room.
“He’s a guy’s guy. Everyone kind of gravitates to him,” Flores said. “I think his ability to fit in quickly with a lot of different guys — he’s been in the league a few years — but that’s kind of been seamless. … A lot of that has to do with the fact that he is smart and team-first and just loves to play and wants to help guys improve and get better and, in the process, he wants to improve and get better, too.”
Brissett, who started 15 games in both the 2019 and 2017 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, appreciates the “guy’s guy” notion.
“I love my teammates. I think that’s what that mean,” he said. “I think my main objective is to be a good teammate no matter my role, and that’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Tagovailoa, in grouping Brissett with Fitzpatrick, who is 10 years
Brissett’s elder, legitimately feels there’s a similar amount he can learn from teaming up with Brissett and his voice in meetings and on the practice field.
“He has really good input for us on kind of where to start, who to look at,” Tagovailoa said. “You can take something from all of these old heads — with Jacoby and then for me also last year was with Fitz. It’s a continuing learning process for me.”
Added Sinnett: “There’s this great collaboration and what he’s been able to do and bring to the room has been special. There’s just so much football knowledge out there, and he’s a football junkie . ... It’s pretty cool to see his experiences and what he loves about the game.”
Flores has noticed how it
extends beyond just the quarterbacks. Brissett communicates with his linemen, defensive players and even special teams players to absorb everyone’s perspective.
“He’s a team-first guy,” Flores said. “I think he just embodies a lot of things we’re looking for. He’s teamfirst, loves to play, tough and smart. There’s a lot of things to like there.”
Training camp has also afforded Brissett the opportunity to get re-acclimated with the South Florida heat and humidity he became familiar with in his youth.
“I grew up here, so when it’s hot, it’s hot. There’s no getting used to it,” he said. “But I had, what, 18 years of a head start than some of these guys, so I think I’m all right.”
Before spending his past four seasons with in Indianapolis, Brissett was a member of the 2016 Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots, who drafted him out of North Carolina State ahead of that season. As Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games that season in the Deflategate aftermath, Brissett got two of those starts as a rookie, along with Jimmy Garoppolo getting the other two.