The New England Patriots are hoping Drake Maye can be the franchise quarterback they have been looking for since Tom Brady left.
Maye was a first-round pick out of North Carolina. Consequently, his alma mater is now where legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick coaches. Recently, Belichick made it known that Patriots scouts were not allowed to attend practices for the Tar Heels.
Obviously, Maye is no longer in college, so it should not matter to him what the current regime decides to do with the team, but he did speak on the decision by the future Hall of Fame coach.
"It's unfortunate for them. But it's coach Belichick's program, so he does what needs to do," Maye said on "WEEI Afternoons," per MassLive's Lauren Campbell.
Maye was never coached by Belichick. Belichick was moved on from by the Patriots just before Maye's rookie season last year.
Belichick's relationship with the Patriots organization has been a hot topic of discussion ever since the team made a change at head coach. However, Belichick made it clear that he's "not welcome" in New England, per Campbell.
As a result, he has made the Patriots' scouts unwelcome at his current team's practices. However, Maye is not going to stop rooting for his college team amid Belichick's rocky relationship with the Patriots.
"I check in on them and watch their games. So just pulling them for them," Maye said, per Campbell.
The Patriots dropped their season opener, just as Belichick and the Tar Heels did. Maye and the Patriots will look to bounce back in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins.
Related Articles
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.