NFL

Patriots notes, quotes, & anecdotes: Happy Drake Maye day!

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, happy Sunday, and welcome back into another edition of ‘Patriots notes, quotes, & anecdotes’. We’re back with another column hitting on all of the happenings surrounding the New England Patriots.

Here we go:

— The future is now in New England.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls — welcome to Maye Day.

The future is now in New England, as the Patriots are officially set to start rookie quarterback Drake Maye under center today against the Houston Texans

I think it’s a great opportunity,” the 2024 No. 3 overall pick told the media on Wednesday. “It’s something you dream of, getting your first start in the NFL. I’m really excited to get out there with the guys, take advantage of having the full week to get prepared, and try to put my best foot forward to help the team win.”

As Maye grazed the sidelines for New England’s first five weeks of the season, he did so with an earpiece in his ear — listening to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt relay play calls to Jacoby Brissett. He said he “balanced a lot of different things,” over the last month-plus while learning behind the veteran.

“I’ve learned so much from him and seeing how he goes about practice,” Maye said of Brissett. “…Watching Jacoby and watching how he handles the whole nine yards, whether it’s preparing, handling teammates… He’s been great, and a great mentor.”

Brissett, who signed a one-year, $8 million contract in March to serve as the de facto bridge quarterback to Maye, wasn’t cutting it. The Patriots are on a four-game losing streak since winning their opener in Cincinnati, have the league’s worst passing offense (119.4 YPG), and are scoring just 12.4 points per game. It’s not all the quarterback’s fault, however.

Heading into Week 6, New England’s offensive line is giving up a league-high pressure rate of 48.3% per Next Gen Stats, and has allowed 19 quarterback sacks, second most behind only the Cleveland Browns. It’s not going to get any easier this week either. The Texans are currently leading the league in pressure at a rate of 42%, and DE Danielle Hunter leads the league with 29 pressure.

Good luck, rook!

— Barmore back soon?

Defensive tackle Christian Barmore sent Patriots Nation into a mini-frenzy on Thursday night when he posted an hourglass emoji to his Twitter timeline:

Barmore, who New England signed to a four-year, $92 million contract extension this offseason that made him the highest-paid Patriot ever not named Tom Brady, hasn’t practiced with the team since late July after being diagnosed with blood clots. The defensive tackle

“He’s progressing,” Jerod Mayo said on Friday morning when asked about Barmore’s mysterious social media post. “He still has some checkpoints or hurdles to get over, but he’s progressing well.”

Mayo was then asked if he believes there’s a better chance now than there was a few weeks ago that Barmore can play for the Patriots at some point this season:

“I would say yes.”

Barmore has been incredible to start his young NFL career. Over his first three seasons, the former star at Alabama has tallied 133 total tackles, 14.5 run stuffs, and 12.5 sacks. In 2023, he led the Patriots’ defense with 8.5 sacks. Bringing him into New England’s already-solid front seven would be a massive addition for the remainder of the year.

— David Andrews plans to play football again in 2025.

The Patriots received some rough news last week when center and captain David Andrews opted for surgery on his injured right shoulder. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, according to Jerod Mayo.

On his Quick Snap podcast with Brian Hoyer this week, Andrews shared that it’s a torn rotator cuff and that while he’s done for this season, he plans to continue playing football in 2025:

“In ’21 I ripped the rotator cuff off the bone. Now I’ve torn it in the meat of it. So what they’re gonna try to do is put a — now this is someone who didn’t graduate college trying to explain — but they’re gonna try to put a sheath over this and hopefully the muscles regrow.”

He continued: “It’s not 100%, but it gives me the best shot to continue my football career and that’s all I can ask for.”

— Robert Kraft weighs in on Jabrill Peppers’ situation.

Patriots captain and safety Jabrill Peppers was arrested last Saturday morning after police officers responded to a disturbance at a home. The 29-year-old was charged with assault and battery, strangulation, and possession of a class “B” substance believed to be cocaine after being accused of choking a woman multiple times and pushing her head against a wall before forcing her from his apartment. He pleaded not guilty on Monday.

In response to the arrest and subsequent charges, the NFL placed Peppers on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, a transaction that protects both the team and the player. Peppers will continue to be paid while on the list and is permitted to attend meetings, workouts, and receive treatments at the team facility. He cannot, however, practice or attend games. The transaction also frees up a roster spot for the team in the meantime.

Jerod Mayo told reporters on Wednesday that while he’s allowed to be with the team per league rules, Peppers will not be in the building “in the near term.”

Patriots owner Robert Kraft responded to the situation on “The Breakfast Club” on Friday:

“When you read the thing initially, it turns your stomach. But we’ve learned — and I don’t know the facts of this case, and Jerod [Mayo] called me, we spoke about it. Once he goes on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, they do their independent checking. We’re doing ours…”

He continued: “There have been some suggestions that this was a set up and a lot of what’s [being] reported is not accurate. I’ve seen in life… someone could set up something and say something that’s just not true. I’ve personally had that happen with me. I have a saying that I use to all my key people: in important decisions in life, you measure nine times and you cut once. I think in this case, if what’s been reported is true, he’s gone. But we wanna get the facts.”