Drake Maye fully experienced the Patriots' country-club-like "culture" under Jerod Mayo as a rookie, and the on-field results for the team spoke for themselves. , a tough, hard-nosed guy who holds his players, including his quarterback, accountable in every sense of the game.
As a team leader, it's up to Maye to fully grasp what Vrabel is trying to build, and he clearly is embracing the model of toughness that the Patriots' first-year head coach has brought to New England.
That was on display when Vrabel dove into a fight between players during a joint practice between the Patriots and the Washington Commanders, which resulted in Vrabel drawing a little bit of blood on his cheek. The players, including Maye, loved it and were soaking it all in.
"That’s what we’re trying to build. It starts with the head coach - the intensity. Taking no crap when we’re on the field…the mentality, I like it," Maye said after practice.
Patriots' quarterback has a good chance to mirror his head coach's toughness
Maye's toughness was on full display in his rookie year, much of which was spent playing behind a porous offensive line, and the quarterback's dual-threat capabilities were on display at times. He showed an uncanny ability to lead a team, even as a rookie.
Vrabel isn't afraid to hold guys accountable, and that's something the Patriots needed after going 8-26 the last two seasons. In an era where players spend as much time on TikTok videos as they do training and lifting weights, Maye appears to be a throwback type of player who mirrors the attitude of his head coach.
Another telling sign that things are changing in New England came when rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson picked up a blitz very well during joint practices with Washington, subsequently throwing the Commanders' pass rusher to the turf, showing a mentality that nobody is going to mess with the Patriots or their quarterback.
If Maye and the Patriots could continue to build this mentality, success could come quicker than people realize.