Drama In New England — Patriots Coaching Staff Appears To Be Accusing Drake Maye Of Making Up Fake Excuses For His Poor Play
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Drake Maye continues to draw attention after another uneven performance for the New England Patriots. The third-year quarterback completed just 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards with two interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
His early-season struggles have already produced six interceptions through three games. That total ranks among the highest for a Patriots quarterback in the same span since the mid-1990s.
Report Details Internal Confusion Over Shoulder Comments
People inside the Patriots organization are “befuddled” by how Drake Maye has discussed his shoulder. Reporter Greg Bedard indicated that they believe “there is nothing wrong” with the quarterback’s shoulder.
Some in the building believe the comments may stem from family or agent influence. They view the remarks as an attempt to create an explanation for inaccurate throws.
Mike Vrabel addressed injury questions after the Jaguars game and said nothing would have placed Maye on the injury report. He added that he does not anticipate any shoulder-related issues moving forward.
Maye himself acknowledged the need for improvement after the loss. He described the performance as a turning point and said he must look in the mirror.
“I’ve got to look myself in the mirror and take this as a turning point,” Maye said. “It’s Week 3, and at the same time we’ve got to get some fuel and realize that what we’re doing out there offensively is unacceptable. It’s been unacceptable for three weeks. So, I’ve got to start with myself and then lead these guys, and we’ve got to get back after it.”
Early Season Challenges Mount For Young Quarterback
The Patriots sit at 1-2 and face a tough road matchup against the Buffalo Bills next. Maye’s decision-making and accuracy have drawn scrutiny after multiple turnovers this season.
He previously dealt with a shoulder injury during last season’s AFC Championship game. However, current medical evaluations inside the organization reportedly show no ongoing problem.
New England will look for cleaner execution this week as the young signal-caller works to regain rhythm. The absence of top target A.J. Brown has limited the offense’s ability to stretch the field, forcing Maye into tighter windows.
Yet the reports from inside the building suggest the shoulder itself is not the root of the current issues. Instead, the focus remains on mechanics, timing and mental processing as the Patriots prepare for a critical division game.
Further updates on his status and the team’s approach are expected as practices continue this week.
