FOXBOROUGH – Kurt Warner knows about rejection, and the self-doubt that creeps in when it appears a career in the NFL might not be in the cards.
Given his rags to riches story, going undrafted in 1994, being released by the Green Bay Packers after training camp, playing in the Arena Football League, then going on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NFL, it’s no wonder countless quarterbacks reach out to Warner seeking guidance and advice.
Mostly, they want reassurance that they belong. That it’s not time to cash it in.
Back in August, Bailey Zappe was one of those quarterbacks. He reached out to Warner right after he got cut by the Patriots after training camp.
BET ANYTHINGGET $250 BONUSESPN BET
21+ and present in MA, NJ, PA, VA, MD, WV, TN, LA, KS, KY, CO, AZ, IL, IA, IN, OH, MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
At the time, it was a tough pill for Zappe to swallow, especially after performing well in relief in 2022, winning two games as a starter, and inspiring a wave of Zappe Fever throughout New England and beyond.
The fourth-round pick basically went from being a rookie quarterback who captured the imagination of the fandom, to a Patriots discard in the blink of an eye. That’s why Zappe reached out to Warner, whom he met at the NFL’s scouting combine in 2021. Given the former Super Bowl winner didn’t have the easiest road to the NFL, Zappe needed some counsel.
Reached by MassLive Wednesday, Warner, who provided commentary of the game on the NFL Network’s Christmas Eve broadcast, offered a little more background, but also assessed where he sees Zappe at this stage.
He said he doesn’t usually reveal the personal exchanges he has with other players, but given the positive message it would inspire, felt compelled to share the Zappe story with the audience Sunday night.
“He was wondering ‘Do I belong? Do I fit in? Am I good enough?’” Warner said of Zappe’s initial text. “And through believing in himself and getting the opportunity, now he sits in a place where he’s playing as well as he’s played in the league. He’s confident, and he’s winning prime-time games. That’s why I thought it was a cool story to share. Because I know in that kind of moment, there’s a lot of people wondering that same kind of thing, athletes or non-athletes alike.
“I’ve had so many people inspired by my story,” Warner went on. “I thought here’s an opportunity to let people be inspired by his story. That’s why I shared it on air.”
Speaking with Zappe on Wednesday, while their communication was via text – the two couldn’t seem to find the time to hook up on the phone – he was still appreciative of the message delivered back then.
“I think the biggest thing when you go through those things is understanding why you started. Everybody always says, what’s your why? Like why did you first start with football?” Zappe said. “To be honest, that was one of the moments where I had to sit down and be like, ‘Why do I still want to play football?’ And the answer was I love it. I don’t want this to be the end, so I’m going to go to work every single day and make sure this is not my end. I’m going to have a future.”
And Warner believes Zappe does have a future in the NFL. At this stage, however, the Patriots quarterback is still trying to prove where he fits in the pecking order, be it as a starter, or a solid No. 2.
“I don’t know where he belongs, either, and I don’t think we have to rush to judgment on where these guys belong,” Warner said. “I think with Bailey, his physical skill set, that’s kind of the one thing you say to yourself: ‘Can he carry a team with his physical skill set?’ Because that’s what truly separates the starter from the backup. Can he be that guy every time out that if he has to throw the ball, can he win games for you? That to me is a starting quarterback in the league.
“And right now, I think Bailey’s done enough to say, ‘I belong.’ Now, give me a shot to see where I belong. Give me a shot to see if I can be that guy, or not.”
Warner doesn’t necessarily believe a quarterback has to have a cannon for an arm. It’s all about making the throws when needed. Right now, that’s an unanswered question with respect to Zappe. It also applies to Mac Jones.
“In this league, you have to be able to make certain throws when everything’s not perfect around you,” the NFL Network analyst said. “You have to be able to carry a team, making those special plays, making those tough throws when the tough throws are there.
“That to me, is the only question with Bailey,” Warner said. “I think he’s really smart. He knows what he’s seeing. He knows how to play the game. The only question I have is his skillset at a level where he can elevate his team, and make those throws consistently at this level. If you can, then I believe you have the ability to be a starter in the National Football League. If you can’t, then those guys are relegated to really good backups, who can come in and give you what you need for a game or two, but probably won’t be able to carry you week in and week out.”
Zappe will be making his fifth straight start on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. He’s won two of his previous four starts, engineering a game-winning drive in the final minute to help take down the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve.
Connecting with DeVante Parker (27 yards), Ezekiel Elliott (five yards), and Mike Gesicki (four yards) to move the ball into field goal range, avoiding the rush to execute those plays when called upon, was impressive. While the Patriots primarily used the run game to start the game-winning drive, Zappe still had to deliver on third down, and beyond.
Warner loved seeing it, but also cautioned that Zappe has to continue to make those kinds of plays to pull out games whenever the need arises.
“That’s what we’re looking for. Even if you’re the Patriots who play great defense and run the football, you still want Tom Brady, you still want that guy to be able to give you that something extra,” said Warner. “And I think that’s the only question. Those are the questions we continue to ask with a lot of young guys. Right now, we’re asking it with (49ers quarterback) Brock Purdy as well. Does he have that skill set to carry a team if he doesn’t have great players around him, or when he has to throw the ball 40 times to win?”
Zappe has certainly come a long way since the Patriots cut him and also had him inactive in favor of Malik Cunningham, who was Mac Jones’ backup against the Las Vegas Raiders early in the season. While he didn’t exactly flourish coming on in relief of Jones several times, Zappe has done much more since being handed the baton as the starter.
“When guys have bad outings, or find themselves on the bench, all those things, I’ve been through the gamut, so I’ve had a lot of people reach out over the years just about those different moments, how you work yourself through those moments, and how you continue to have confidence and belief in yourself even in those moments,” said Warner. “We never were able to get on the phone, but I shot him a quick text. And he’s found his way through it. I’ve watched him since he’s been in there, and I’ve watched him gain more confidence every week.”
And, he watched Zappe rebound after fumbling on the very first play from scrimmage against the Broncos. Warner is well aware of the premium Bill Belichick places on not turning the ball over, and how that’s the quickest way to the bench.
While Zappe has had a few turnovers in his recent games, he hasn’t been deterred. He hasn’t let the mistakes repeat, or impact him negatively.
Warner believes that game-winning drive against the Broncos was important for the second-year quarterback, but even more important for the coaching staff, and players around him.
“In my case, it was more important for everyone else than it was for me. I never questioned if I could do it. I never questioned whether I could do it. I knew what I was capable of. But I thought it was important for my teammates to see it,” Warner said. “It was important for them to know he’s not only good the first 57 minutes. He’s really good the last three minutes … We can trust him with the ball in his hands when we need a drive, or we need a play.
“That to me, is what’s so important about those moments in those drives. For everybody else to realize who you are, what you’re capable of, and build that trust in you to be the guy when you need to be the guy.”
In a nutshell, that was Warner’s message to Zappe months ago. That he was still capable of playing in the NFL, he just needed to show it, prove it, when given the opportunity.
NFL fans can wager online on Massachusetts sports betting with enticing promo codes from top online sportsbooks. Use the FanDuel Massachusetts promo code and the DraftKings Massachusetts promo code for massive new user bonuses.
