Patriots’ Drake Maye calls Jerod Mayo, Alex Van Pelt job speculation ‘BS’
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Sitting at 3-12, the Patriots are due for some coaching changes this offseason.
Just don’t tell Drake Maye.
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The Patriots’ rookie quarterback objected Sunday to speculation that head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt could be in jeopardy of losing their jobs. Maye, who has consistently backed both coaches this season, made his strongest comments yet after the Pats’ 24-21 loss at Buffalo.
“I think it’s some BS, to be quite honest,” Maye said. “Coach Mayo, we’ve got his back. He’s coaching us hard. He wants to win. We all want to win. We’re all frustrated. (Van Pelt) has been, I feel like, calling it great these last couple weeks. We’re just plays away. It’s me turning the ball over.
He continued: “I think it’s a testament to these guys to keep fighting, keep fighting. We’re not going to make the playoffs. We’re out of the race and these guys are coming in, frustrated we don’t score and they’ve got energy at practice. They’ve got energy coming to the game. We want to win. There’s guys not even playing who are yelling on the sideline and want to win. I think we’re building something good, something that feels right here.”
Maye added he’s “proud” to be a Patriot.
Earlier this month, the 22-year-old credited Van Pelt for his development. Back in the summer, Maye spent the first three weeks of training camp as the Patriots’ clear-cut No. 2 option behind Jacoby Brissett, then leapt ahead of Brissett and proved to be the better quarterback over the last two weeks of camp and the preseason.
Entering Sunday’s kickoff, Maye had completed 68.5% of his passes for 1,898 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In Buffalo, he went 22-of-36 for 261 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while adding 30 rushing yards on six carries. He also had two fumbles, including a lost lateral in the fourth quarter that led to an eventual game-winning touchdown for Buffalo.
Veteran tight end Hunter Henry echoed Maye’s comments about Mayo and Van Pelt in his own press conference, saying Sunday: ““I love playing for Jerod, I love playing for AVP.”