The New England Patriots are well aware that the partnership between young quarterback Drake Maye and new head coach Mike Vrabel will need to flourish over the years if it is going to have any hope of holding a candle to the success of the one between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on the East Coast.
It appears that Maye is just as acutely aware of this. Maye lost a fumble in New England’s first preseason game and Vrabel wasn’t shy about publicly rebuking the young quarterback for the mistake.
“The expectation is that he’s leading this football team,” Vrabel said, per The Greg Hill Show. “That’s what the job of the head coach and the quarterback is. That’s pretty much how this thing goes. And that he can’t take days off.
“I mean, sometimes the performance isn’t going to be extraordinary, but the leadership and the demeanor has to be.
“And I think he’s learning that. I love the fact that he’s willing to learn and push and try to do those things to where he’s demanding of everybody and making sure that everybody’s on the same page.”
It’s clear that Vrabel has sky-high expectations for Maye. Now, it’s up to Maye whether or not he will rise to the occasion and meet them.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.