New England Patriots rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe got his first NFL win on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, and now, he’s getting his first nickname since being drafted.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Patriots special teams legend Matthew Slater nicknamed Zappe after one of his favorite bands, “Zapp & Roger,” when speaking to the media after the game.
Of course, Zappe likely didn’t get the reference considering he wasn’t even alive when the American funk band was at its peak. But the fact that he’s earned a nickname shows how beloved he is in the locker room. At only 23 years old, the fourth-round draft pick out of Western Kentucky stepped up and earned the team’s respect.
Matthew Slater’s nickname for Bailey Zappe: “Zapp & Roger”
One of Slater’s favorite bands … and one he’s sure the 23-year-old Zappe isn’t too familiar with.
Zappe, in his first career start, added more bounce to the ounce to the Patriots’ offense.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 10, 2022
We’ll see if he has to continue to step up with starting quarterback, Mac Jones, still on the mend from a high ankle sprain. If Jones isn’t able to go for a third straight week, it’ll be Zappe, or “Zapp & Roger,” making the start against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6.
