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Cam Newton: Drake Maye isn’t the reason the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl
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- Cam Newton: Drake Maye isn’t the reason the Patriots are going to the Super Bowl
Cam Newton has been one of Drake Maye’s most vocal antagonists . The former NFL MVP had consistently discredited Maye and the New England Patriots ’ success this season , calling the quarterback a game manager , not a game-changer and saying he’s not a top-five QB .
Now, Newton believes Maye is benefitting from New England ’s defense during its playoff run to Super Bowl 60 .
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“ It’s giving Trent Dilfer, it’s giving Jim McMahon, Brad Johnson , Rex Grossman . All of those names combined benefited off a great defense alone. They’re not here because of Drake Maye ,” Newton said on his “4th & 1” podcast . “That’s just facts. Does that make Drake Maye a bad player? No. Did Drake Maye do enough to win a football game? Yes. But I would also say Drake Maye did enough to lose a game that he won, too.”
Grossman led the Chicago Bears to the Super Bowl during the 2006 season. While Chicago went 13-3, Grossman threw 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions while completing just 54.6% of his passes. Dilfer had 12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and completed 59.3% of his passes in 2000 while leading the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl.
Maye, meanwhile, amassed 31 touchdowns, just eight interceptions and threw for 4,394 yards — fourth in the NFL. His 77.1 QBR also led the league.
There’s no denying how strong New England’s defense has been throughout the reuglar season and playoffs. Christian Gonzalez had a game-changing interception late in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos , and C.J. Stroud was intercepted four times in the first half of the division game in the Houston Texans ’ loss to the Patriots.
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Maye hasn’t played perfectly during the playoffs, and he and the Patriots will be tested against the Seattle Seahawks . But they’ve been doubted all season and into their playoff run. They’ve found ways to win when it matters the most.
Despite critiquing Maye, Newton did give the quarterback his flowers, noting he sees a bright future for the 23-year-old.
“But this is what you have to understand about ol’ Drake Maye,” Newton said . “If he keeps this up with this trajectory, winning this early in his career, whether I like it, whether I love it, whether I hate it, hate it some more, hate it even more than that, despise it or just don’t wanna give credit when credit’s due, Drake Maye will go down as an all-time great. Even superseding the individual that played there that got a statue.”
That person, of course, is Tom Brady .
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