New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel fired back at a Drake Maye report.
During his weekly press conference with New England Patriots reporters, Mike Vrabel fired back at a recent report stating he and QB Drake Maye don't get along.
"Let me just tell you why I'm here," Vrabel said. "I'm here because Drake was the quarterback. Believe it or not, I had choices to where I wanted to coach. I wanted to coach here because Drake was the quarterback.
"So I don't have really much other to add to that about a comment from an unmade source. But I'll just tell you what I've told numerous people if they want to ask me why I'm here."
After going to the Super Bowl last season, the Patriots have started the 2026 campaign badly. They are 1-2 and QB Maye looks terrible. He has six interceptions and just one touchdown pass, bringing him to 15 turnovers in seven games since the start of last season's playoffs.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford won the MVP award last season over Maye, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in just his second NFL season. The UNC product finished the 2025 regular season with 4,394 passing yards and 31 passing touchdowns while completing 72.0% of his passes.
New England beat the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos in the 2025 playoffs to reach the Super Bowl. Maye suffered a shoulder injury in the AFC Championship Game against the Broncos and that played a large role in why he struggled to throw the ball in the Super Bowl.
Maye entered this season with 6,670 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns. It's puzzling why he looks so bad right now.
The absence of A.J. Brown could be one reason. Since entering the NFL, Brown is fourth in the league in both receiving yards (8,029) and touchdown catches (56). Brown and Ja'Marr Chase are the NFL's only two players with at least 1,000 receiving yards and seven-plus touchdown catches in each of the past four seasons.
Brown was placed on injured reserve after suffering a right high ankle sprain against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.
Brown had 78 catches for 1,003 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Pro Bowler entered this season with 8,029 receiving yards and 56 receiving touchdowns in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and Eagles.
Things don't get easier for the Patriots. They face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. Vrabel's defense has to be better. You can't give up 35 points and expect to win a game.
Allen is the early MVP frontrunner. He has five passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns through three games. The future Hall of Famer is completing 65.1% of his passes for 786 passing yards.
If the Patriots fall to 1-3, the noise in New England will get louder and louder.
