New England Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye Pushes Back On Comments From Former NFL MVP
You can’t choose your heroes. But sometimes, you have to put them in their place. Drake Maye, the Patriots’ phenom quarterback, grew up in Charlotte idolizing Cam Newton. He watched Newton light up the league, win an MVP, and take the Panthers to the Super Bowl. So when Newton, now a talking head, decided to throw some shade at Maye and the Patriots’ scorching 9-2 start, it must have stung a little.
Newton, appearing on ESPN’s First Take, called the Patriots’ success “fool’s gold,” comparing them to “cubic zirconia from the middle of the mall.” His main gripe? A supposedly soft schedule. He even gave Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels more credit for Maye’s success than Maye himself. Ouch.
When asked about the comments during his weekly radio spot, Maye didn’t just brush them off. He delivered a knockout blow with a smirk. “I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye said.
Maye To Newton: “Worry About Yourself”
Maye wasn’t done there. He followed up his jab with a dose of veteran-level perspective that belies his 23 years. “I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments,” he said. “So, I just worry about what people in our organization think… People are going to have different opinions. I’m just going out there on Sunday and worrying about ourselves.”
It’s a classic “scoreboard” response. While Newton is busy creating hot takes for TV, Maye is busy leading the league in passing yards and completion percentage, with 20 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. He’s not just playing “good football,” as Newton condescendingly noted. He’s playing like an MVP.
Are the Patriots “Fool’s Gold?”
Let’s address Newton’s argument. Have the Patriots benefited from a last-place schedule? Sure. They’ve beaten up on some bottom-feeders like the Titans and Saints. But calling their success “fool’s gold” conveniently ignores their statement wins against legitimate contenders like the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You don’t get to 9-2 in the NFL by accident, no matter who you play.
It is a tough look for Newton. He was the guy the Patriots brought in to replace Tom Brady, and it didn’t exactly work out. Now, the young quarterback who grew up with a poster of him on his wall is doing what Newton couldn’t: making the Patriots a powerhouse again. Maybe that is the real reason for the sour grapes.
At the end of the day, opinions are cheap. Trophies aren’t. And right now, Drake Maye looks a lot more like a man chasing a Lombardi than a piece of cubic zirconia.
