Patriots’ Drake Maye Claps Back at Josh McDaniels Critics
Posted September 9, 2025
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It was not the triumphant Monday media tour for the Patriots that many hoped for this week after Sunday’s moribund 20-13 loss to the Raiders in the debut of the Mike Vrabel era. While there were many disappointments in different aspects of the team, maybe the biggest looming question centers on quarterback Drake Maye, who showed potential as a rookie but is under pressure to convert that potential into production in Year 2.
Maye was 30-for-46 for 287 yards and a touchdown on Sunday—good numbers but rather hollow considering they produced only 13 points.
One of the concerns that has arisen around Maye is whether the Patriots coaches are asking a bit too much of him this year. New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has an extensive playbook and Maye is only days removed from his 23rd birthday, working in his second NFL offense in as many years. Many have called for McDaniels to simplify the offense for Maye.
Drake Maye: ‘Just Gotta Make More Throws’
Maye was asked about whether there is too much being asked from him in an appearance on the Boston radio station WEEI on Monday. Predictably, Maye does not see things that way.
“I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “At the end of the day, playing quarterback in the NFL, there is going to be a lot on your plate no matter what team you play for. Just being better as a group in details, better at establishing the run game and playing off the run game and then, in the passing (game), I thought I saw it well and those guys blocked well up front. I just gotta make more throws.
“I think am ready for it. I think I will get more and more comfortable throughout the season.”
Patriots Momentum Killed by Interception
If there was one play that stood out as a game-changer from Sunday, it was the interception that Maye threw trying to hit Stefon Diggs on a long ball in the first drive of the third quarter. The Patriots were leading, 10-7, and had a drive working that had them out at the 48-yard line.
Maye attempted to throw while being hit, and wound up sailing a pass that was picked off at the New England 29. The Raiders scored a touchdown on the next drive and the Patriots punted four straight times thereafter.
Said Maye: “Part of this league is making throws while getting hit. I think I had Diggs opened and I need to follow through and there’s been times it’s happened where I could maybe go make a play instead of stepping up there or settling back into the pocket more and not stepping up there.
“I wouldn’t say it was a miss, if I had it back, I would just try to follow through more and don’t kind of step up and get affected by the D-line.”
Patriots Can Bounce Back in Miami
The good news for the Patriots is that the next game is against the woebegone Dolphins, and if there is a time to begin building momentum, it is now. Miami lost, 33-8, to the Colts in its opener.
Maye thinks he knows what the Pats need to do.
“Just gotta be better,” he said. “Gotta find a way to establish the run game, get the run game going and then command the passing game. I felt like at times I moved it well and we were in a rhythm and were moving the ball down the field. And then whether it’s in the red zone or on third down or just being more accurate and keep drives alive, put up seven instead of settling for a field goal or getting stopped on third down.”
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni taking ‘private’ approach to internal Jalen Carter punishment
It's official, Philadelphia Eagles fans: Jalen Carter will be fined $57,222 and handed a suspension for one game for spitting on Dak Prescott, which has been retroactively enforced in Game 1.
While Carter's pockets may be a tad lighter moving forward, especially considering he is still on his rookie contract, the pathway has been cleared for No. 98 to return to the field for Week 2, when the reigning and defending Super Bowl Champions take on the Kansas City Chiefs for the second time this year.
Or has it been?
Talking to reporters on Monday about Carter's action and a potential suspension that still hadn't been decided either way, head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters that the Eagles would handle the situation internally, with any additional disciplinary actions being taken care of privately.
“I'm going to keep everything that I do with him private, regardless of if you see it on Sunday or not,” Sirianni told reporters. “Everything, every conversation, whether it's a personal conversation, a disciplinary thing, all those things will always be handled privately. I just think that's the way to go about doing team business, and when you're doing things with a football team.”
Now granted, would the Eagles intentionally put themselves in another game without their do-it-all defensive anchor, against a team they just beat in the Super Bowl earlier this year, no less? No, they almost certainly would not, especially considering how much Vic Fangio had to change up his defensive strategy to give Prescott a hard time while Carter watched along in the Lincoln Financial Field locker room. But could they keep Carter on the sidelines for the first play, the first drive, or even the first quarter of the game as a reminder that his biggest asset is his pass-rushing ability, not his trash talk? That feels far more possible.
