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Patriots Coach Vrabel Denies Rift With Quarterback Maye
Confirmed
In Short: Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel denied reports of a rift with quarterback Drake Maye during a Wednesday press conference.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel denied reports of a rift with quarterback Drake Maye during a Wednesday press conference.
Vrabel said, 'Let me just tell you why I'm here. I'm here because Drake was the quarterback.
The rumor surfaced on WEEI's 'The Greg Hill Show,' where hosts suggested there might be a problem between Vrabel and Maye.
Vrabel's commitment to Maye was further emphasized by his comments on Wednesday, reaffirming his belief in the quarterback's potential.
Maye's performance this season has been underwhelming, leading the NFL in turnovers and having the league's lowest passer rating.
Vrabel acknowledged the team's struggles but emphasized his support for Maye, stating, 'I think quarterbacks want to make plays. They want to throw touchdowns.
The Patriots' 1-2 start has been largely attributed to Maye's regression from his MVP-caliber season last year.
Maye's recent turnovers, including a fumble and an interception in Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, have highlighted the need for improvement.
Vrabel's public denial of the rift comes as the team prepares for their Week 4 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
The coach's interaction with the media following the game will be closely watched for any further insights into the relationship between Vrabel and Maye.
What this adds
The report on WEEI's 'The Greg Hill Show' was based on secondhand information from an unnamed source.
Vrabel's comments during the Wednesday press conference were seen as a direct response to the rumors circulating on the radio show.
What's confirmed
- “Let me just tell you why I'm here. I'm here because Drake was the quarterback,” Vrabel said.
- I wanted to coach here because Drake was the quarterback.
- A recent report on Greg Hill's WEEI Radio show indicated that there's trouble brewing between New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye.
What's still developing
- New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks to quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct.
- Last November, as Maye was in the middle of an MVP-caliber season, Vrabel claimed he knew what kind of player he would be.
- The fact of the matter is that Maye and Vrabel are tied together at the hip, and their successes and failures will be conjoined throughout their entire tenures with the Patriots.
- For now, Vrabel has to hope Maye can tap back into his former self, or at least coach him to a level that can help his team win games.
- There is an issue between Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye Per: @WEEI, @TheGregHillShow “Despite what Mike Vrabel has said publicly, it goes back to Drake Maye not being his guy” Wow pic.twitter.com/dC0pWXrtsF Admittedly, this report feels a little flimsy.
- I came here because of Drake," Vrabel said at the time, via MassLive.com. "I knew what he would be, and it was important for me to come here.
- Of course, a key reason why all these "reports" are bubbling to the surface at the moment is not only because the Patriots are off to a 1-2 start, but also because Maye has regressed dramatically from his runner-up MVP season. Through three games, Maye leads the NFL in turnovers (7) and has a league-worst 58.6 passer rating (min. 75 attempts). Those miscues would frustrate any coach wanting to win, but it creating a chasm this quickly feels premature. Whether the unnamed source that fed "The Greg Hill Show" is right or not, it'll be fascinating to listen to Vrabel's interaction with the show next Monday morning following New England's Week 4 matchup in Buffalo for his weekly hit.
- It sounds like it's coming secondhand, with an unnamed "insider" getting some sort of information regarding a possible rift between Vrabel and Maye, telling Hill and Wiggins, and then those two relaying it on the air.
- It grew long enough legs that Vrabel was asked about it during his Wednesday press conference.
- As you might imagine, he categorically shut down any notion of a strained relationship between himself and Maye, acknowledging that he chose to join the Patriots in 2025 because they had Maye at quarterback.
- Maye is off to a brutal start in his third NFL campaign.
- But when speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vrabel firmly denied those rumors.