FOXBOROUGH - Some athletes are natural born leaders. They instinctively know how to galvanize a group, lead a team, command a room.
Others don’t have a clue how to go about it, and need some guidance before taking the wheel.
Then, there are those who don’t want any part of it. They’re content to follow.
Red Sox star Rafael Devers is an example of the latter. Just because it makes sense for him to lead given his stature in the game and the money he’s being paid doesn’t make it so.
He’s not comfortable in the role.
So where does Drake Maye fit? Where does he fall on the leadership scale with the Patriots?
In football, if you’re the quarterback, there isn’t much choice. You have to lead. That’s part of the job description.
And Maye, unlike Devers, is certainly willing. He’s embraced all that comes with being a quarterback. He wants to be that guy.
At age 22, however, he’s still finding his footing on this Patriots team.
Mike Vrabel has brought in many veteran leader types, be it Morgan Moses or Robert Spillane.
That doesn’t mean the Patriot’s coach is not going to count on Maye in that role. He just considers it a work in progress for a young, second-year quarterback.
“I think that there is a lot of room to grow. I think there’s a lot of natural leadership qualities,” Vrabel said of Maye prior to the workout. “I think I have to encourage him, continue to encourage him and to put him in those positions to do that so that the players understand that there’s a different version of all of us.
“There’s one that’s maybe off the field, that there’s one in the meeting room, and then there’s a version on the field, which we all have to understand is somewhat different than what it may be off the field.”
Translating a bit, one important quality for any leader is not being afraid to criticize a teammate if warranted, or saying things players necessarily don’t want to hear.
Leaders have to be big on tough love, but also have to find the right balance. They have to have a feel how to handle every situation.
“This is pro football. I don’t think everybody’s going to like you. I don’t think that’s something that is possible,” said Vrabel, who also walks that fine line as a head coach. “We have to do our job. We have to make sure that we’re prepared and that ultimately the players can hold each other accountable to play to our standard, play to our identity and know what to do and perform.”
Maye has to have the ability to reach certain players, and be a conduit for Vrabel, and his message. He needs to have the respect of the players, and be firm with his convictions.
As Vrabel said, Maye needs to be willing to have guys not like him.
“I think that’s evolving and that’s a work in progress,” Vrabel said. “I think we’re all learning each other a little bit. I think we’re all learning the system and learning the plays, and once we master it, I think that’s going to start to separate itself.”
Last year, during his rookie season, Maye wasn’t named the starter until Week 6. During that time, he showed deference to starter Jacoby Brissett. But it wasn’t long before he was holding players accountable. At one point, he asked to address the team after a few bad practices.
That won him a lot of leadership points. It just can’t stop there.
“Hopefully, you know what to do, you’re prepared, you do things the right way, you’re a good listener. I think you can adapt to what happens and adapt to the people you’re talking to maybe based on what they need,” Vrabel said. “Sometimes people need a little different encouraging, and sometimes you need a little bit of a firmer hand and maybe a little bit of a firmer stance. I think that’s all important of understanding and getting to know each person before you can start to lead them.”
Following practice, Maye spoke with the media and was asked about his role as a leader of the team. He knows he’s in Year 2, and not only is he expected to make a leap on the field, he also needs to pick it up on the other front.
“Yeah, I think it’s an opportunity for me to take a jump. I think from last year being a rookie, trying to come in here and earn my stripes, earn my keep through hard work, I think this year is the same approach,” Maye said. “You got new guys in here, new staff, got to keep on getting to know everybody, show my work ethic.
“From there, as the season comes around, try to take the next step in leadership and leading the offense and hopefully leading this football team.”
Maye wants to earn his way on the leadership totem pole. He wants to prove himself. That way, he’ll have a little more confidence, a little more cachet to assume the desired role.
Already, Vrabel has him leading the team when the players run at the end of practice. Maye calls out the cadence for players to get off the line.
“I think it’s something that me growing up with three older brothers and [being] around older people my whole life, I’ve kind of been comfortable, once I got acclimated, which I feel like I definitely am now, to kind of step into that zone,” Maye said. “Hey, especially offensively, if somebody’s not doing their job – and it starts with me, I’ve got to do mine first – but if somebody’s not doing their job and repeating mistakes, I think there’s got to be a consequence. I think at some point it hurts the football team, and I think it hurts everybody in that building."
By the sound of it, Maye gets it, even if it means stepping on some toes to accomplish the mission.