Drake Maye has been making significant progress as the New England Patriots’ quarterback—and having some fun along the way.
The rookie recently went viral during a press conference when Patriots reporter Taylor Kyles asked how he reads defenses.
“It kinda comes with feeling the guy out, pause,” Maye replied. While his response drew laughs, Maye might want to tread carefully with such comments to avoid potential fines. The NBA previously fined LaMelo Ball $100,000 for similar remarks, and Maye will hope to avoid the same outcome.
On the field, Maye has been solid since taking over as the Patriots’ starting quarterback. So far, he has thrown for 1,236 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions. Beyond his performance, he’s also stepping up as a leader for the team. After a victory over the Chicago Bears, Maye discussed taking ownership of the offense and focusing on execution.
“Last week, I mentioned a situation where we had second and third down in a two-minute drill and couldn’t gain one yard,” Maye said. “It’s little things like that—lack of focus on details. Sometimes in practice, you’re just running plays without intent. I’ve been challenging myself and my teammates to treat every play like it matters because, in a game, it does.”
Head coach Jerod Mayo has praised Maye’s growth, noting his increasing command of the offense and leadership on the team.
“Drake has addressed the offense several times,” Mayo said. “He’s starting to take real control of the team. Performing well on the field is the first step, but the next is bringing others along with you. I think he’s on his way to doing that.”
Although the Patriots’ season hasn’t been ideal, young players like Maye have provided bright spots and hope for the team’s future.
