SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) 鈥� When Drake Maye thinks about what it took for him to make it to the in just his second NFL season, his mind drifts to some of the stiffest competitions he鈥檚 ever faced.
鈥淚 just think every two-on-two basketball (game) in the backyard probably prepared me for this,鈥� the New England Patriots quarterback said. 鈥淭he joy of it, but kind of the feeling you get of accomplishing something, me beating my older brothers or just having an opportunity to compete at a high level.鈥�
Those siblings 鈥� Luke, Cole and Beau 鈥� never took it easy on the youngest of the Maye boys. It made Drake want to follow in their footsteps as college athletes. Luke and Beau shined on the basketball court at North Carolina. Cole won a baseball national title at Florida.
Maye will now get the on a level none of them have when he leads the Patriots into their Super Bowl matchup with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
The narrative surrounding New England鈥檚 12th Super Bowl appearance has largely centered on the similarities between this team and the one Tom Brady led to the franchise鈥檚 first Lombardi Trophy in his second season in 2001. But there are also many differences.
Maye has a long way to go before he gets close to replicating Brady鈥檚 success. Still, after initial failed attempts by the Patriots to fill the future Hall of Famer鈥檚 shoes, Maye is looking like a worthy successor.
Yes, like Brady, Maye鈥檚 hit a stride in his second season. But he鈥檚 also following his own path.
Brady grew up a California kid wanting to be Joe Montana but wasn鈥檛 drafted until the sixth round. Maye was the No. 3 overall draft pick out of North Carolina who watched the Patriots beat his Panthers in the first Super Bowl he saw in person. That game took place in the same stadium where he鈥檒l now play his first Super Bowl.
Maye has tried to avoid the spotlight during his breakout season, though it hasn鈥檛 prevented him from earning the respect of teammates who believe his best football is yet to come.
As even-keeled as Maye has been throughout this season, they have seen his emotions dial up at times.
鈥淎fter a win. Especially after the AFC championship win when he鈥檚 running for the first down (that helped secure the win),鈥� receiver Stefon Diggs recalled. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just a quarterback who kind of gives the credit to everybody else. But as a receiver, I鈥檇 like to give him more credit than everybody takes. He can run, he can throw, he can jump and can cut. He can make people miss. He does a lot from that quarterback position that鈥檚 truly special. When you see that guy get emotional, it鈥檚 more on the good side.鈥�
Maye鈥檚 leadership abilities have also been refreshing to those around him.
When surveyed the NFL landscape in search of a new team, one of the things he hoped to find was a team with a young quarterback that he felt he could build around.
It didn鈥檛 take him long to see something special in Maye.
鈥淚 think I probably realized that before I got here. That鈥檚 a large part of the reason that I wanted to be here,鈥� Vrabel said.
Then he got a chance to see him in person.
鈥淭here were plays in training camp and things that he did,鈥� Vrabel said. 鈥淚 think the thing was the accuracy outside of the pocket or on the move, the way he plays the position, he has an athletic nature to the way that he plays the position. So, I think that鈥檚 somewhat unique.”
Maye has also demonstrated his running ability. Though his ability to make clean slides has been an issue at times, he rushed for 450 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season.
He鈥檚 posted 141 rushing yards and a touchdown in the playoffs, adding a dimension to his game that has been more than willing to work into his scheme.
Maye’s scrambles in the over Denver helped the Patriots find offense in a game dominated by defense. That could again be the case against Seattle on Sunday.
鈥淣ow that I鈥檓 in the NFL now, I鈥檓 just trying to model my game after myself,鈥� Maye said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 things you try to take from players. But I wouldn鈥檛 say I鈥檓 trying to model my game after anybody anymore. I鈥檓 at the stage now where I鈥檓 an NFL quarterback and trying to make a name for myself.鈥�
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