New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye
Young quarterbacks are taught to throw the ball away if they see trouble. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye did just that, but his throwaway might have unintentionally sparked more drama.
And that’s how Maye found himself as the subject of ridicule for ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who called the second-year QB a “liar” on an episode of “First Take.” That accusation stemmed from Make downplaying criticism from former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who said the Patriots’ season thus far was “fool’s gold.”
Maye largely sidestepped the issue in a recent radio appearance, but one comment — “I don’t even know what show (Newton is) on” — caught the ire of Smith.
“He’s also a liar. … Don’t tell me you’re an athlete and you don’t know that Cam Newton ain’t on this show, you lyin’.”
Stephen A. Smith Goes Off on Drake Maye for Cam Newton Comment
The whole saga began with Newton, who recently downplayed the Patriots’ impressive 9-2 start the season, (correctly) saying New England has benefited from an easy schedule.
“It has fool’s gold written all over it,” Newton argued during an episode of “First Take” last week. “Cubic zirconia. Middle of the mall. And yes, is Drake Maye playing good football? Absolutely.
“The thing I have a problem with is if you keep playing sorry scrubs … it has one and done written all over it.”
Maye went on WEEI and largely avoided the topic.
“I don’t even know what show he’s on,” Maye told the WEEI afternoon show, per Boston.com. “I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments.
“I’m just worried about what people in our organization think and worry about (what) we think and what my teammates think.”
It doesn’t get more quarterback cliche than that, but don’t tell that to Smith.
“But a professional athlete performing because he’s in his feelings because somebody might have critiqued him or some weak-ass reporter or pundit or radio (host) gonna ask the question out of context,” he continued. “They misquote Cam because as Cam said, he was talking about the Patriots, not (Maye), and you gonna ask the question, then ask it accurately instead of misrepresenting Cam Newton.”