As New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye continues to push for an MVP award in just his second season in the pros, the Tom Brady comparisons are only going to get louder.
While Maye obviously has mountains to climb before he is even in the same galaxy as Brady from a legacy point of view, even those who had multiple championship runs stop at the feet of Brady are seeing many of the same telltale traits that helped No. 12 hit that exalted tier.
Peyton Manning, who is making his usual media rounds before New England's scheduled duel against the 2-10 New York Giants on Monday Night Football, took the time to heap praise on Maye. Accoring to Manning, Maye is playing just like Brady did early in his career.
"Just how calm and cool Drake is when he throws the ball...I think that speaks to his poise and how confident he is in this system," Manning said. "I spoke to Drake this week. He's watching old plays of Tom Brady. I can't tell you what a huge advantage that is when you have the same offensive coordinator that Tom Brady had, and you're watching cut-ups of him in that Patriots uniform from 15 years ago."
Peyton Manning pays Patriots QB Drake Maye ultimate Tom Brady praise
What makes Maye's sophomore rise so exceptional are two main factors. First, Maye is playing behind an already suspect offensive line that is now playing without top left tackle Will Campbell. The wide receiver room outside of Stefon Diggs isn't exactly Murderer's Row.
Second, Maye is ranking at or near many of the top passing categories in the league while playing an extremely vertical style of play. Maye is both ripping off huge plays and ranking near the top of the league in completion percentage, which seems like a very paradoxical way to pay a quarterback.
Even though the Denver Broncos managed to keep the pressure on with an overtime win on Sunday Night Football, Maye holding serve on Monday Night would put the Patriots right back at the top of the AFC. After a 10-0 start aided by a Marcus Jones punt return, Maye was put in a good position.
After some years of futility, the Patriots appear to have immediately fixed their quarterback problems by taking the no-doubt North Carolina prospect and letting him soak in as much of Brady's residual success as possible.