Patriots coach Vrabel downplays reports of tension with quarterback Drake Maye
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said his primary reason for joining the team was quarterback Drake Maye, offering little comment on media reports of a rift between them.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporter Mark Daniels that his decision to take the New England job was driven by quarterback Drake Maye, adding that he had little to say about a claim of discord that originated from an unnamed source. Vrabel did not label the report as inaccurate, but declined further discussion.
Analysts noted that Vrabel appeared destined to coach the Patriots regardless of the quarterback he inherited, and questioned whether off-field issues, including speculation about his personal life, might be influencing the team's early-season performance. The Patriots suffered a loss to Buffalo on Sunday, intensifying scrutiny of both the quarterback and the coaching staff.
"When games start, winning matters. And so if they get off to a fast start, they’ve got a chance to quiet some of that noise. If they don’t, things could get extremely loud," said NBC commentator Mike Tomlin when the topic was raised before the Hall of Fame Game.