Leading the New England Patriots to a 9-2 record has secured quarterback Drake Maye a lot of attention. Fortunately for the higher-ups in New England, Maye is displaying real maturity on and off the field this season in how he deals with it.
Former MVP Cam Newton took aim at Maye this week by calling the Patriots' start "fool's gold" due to the soft nature of their schedule to date. When local media members brought Newton's comments to Maye's attention, though, the young signal-caller quickly replied that he didn't even know what show Newton was on at the moment.
That's just the sort of quip that would have made former Patriots' coach Bill Belichick offer a wry smile. Belichick's taken his talents to the college ranks, but New England still prides itself on a no-nonsense approach under head coach Mike Vrabel.
Drake Maye is doing and saying all the right things as he prepares for his first playoff run
More importantly for Patriots fans dreaming of a lengthy playoff run, Maye continues to play elite football on a weekly basis. He's completing just under 72% of his passes despite having one of the deepest target distances in the league. That combination has the former North Carolina standout near the top of MVP ballots around the country.
It's also worth noting that Maye's on-field success is happening without the services of a top-tier wide receiver room. Stefon Diggs is still a big-name player, but he's on the downside of his career at 32 years of age. Mack Hollins is the wideout with the second-highest catch total on the year, but he does not possess the skill set to really threaten opposing secondaries.
New England's remaining schedule will give Maye even more opportunities to pad his win total. The Patriots head to Cincinnati this week where they will almost certainly catch the Bengals without the services of Joe Burrow. The following week, Maye will get the opportunity to play against the Giants defense on Monday Night Football. It would be a major surprise if the Patriots don't win both games.
The chatter surrounding Maye's potential MVP candidacy and his team's potential Super Bowl credentials will only increase if they're able to run their record to 11-2. If that occurs, fans in New England can take comfort in their young signal-caller's ability to stay in the moment. He's been unflappable with the media and on the field this season. As long as he stays the course, New England has every chance to make a deep postseason run.