Cam Newton Still Taking Shots At Patriots ‘Game Manager’ Drake Maye

New England Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye is blossoming into one of the most likable characters in the entire NFL.

Maye leads the league in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating.

The former third overall pick has thrown for 30 touchdowns and run for four more, all while curbing the turnover concerns that plagued his rookie season.

He constantly says the right thing at the podium, and the 23-year-old seems to impress anyone he speaks to.

None of that is good enough for 36-year-old, 11-year NFL veteran Cam Newton, who continues his media crusade against the Patriots captain seemingly every week.

This week’s chapter in Newton’s one-sided attack on Maye comes from his podcast.

“Drake Maye is well and capable, has all the upside, and skillset. But last year, under his player’s status, a head coach was fired,” Newton said on the “4th & 1” podcast. “That’s not to say, ‘Aw, man, you can’t say that. That wasn’t all Drake Maye, he was a young quarterback.’ But, does Jerod Mayo have a job right now? Offensive coordinator was Alex Van Pelt. Is he an offensive coordinator anywhere in this league?”

Former Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo brought the Patriots to a 3-14 record and chose to sign Jacoby Brissett as the team’s starting quarterback for his first season at the helm.

Alex Van Pelt’s offense was 31st in total yards and had the worst passing attack in the NFL.

Maye is the only member of Eliot Wolf, Mayo and Van Pelt’s 2024 draft class that has not been traded or waived at any point during their first two seasons.

Numerous factors contributed to moving on from the 2024 coaching staff disaster; perhaps none less than Maye.

“Now insert Mike Vrabel. Now insert a dynamic play-caller in Josh McDaniels. The system is right,” Newton said. “So I can’t just sit up here and say Drake Maye is a game-changer right now because we’ve only had one season of dynamic play.”

Newton played under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in his only season in New England. He threw just eight touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 15 games. He posted a 39.4 QBR, lower than if he had spiked the ball on every play of the season (39.6).

“What I’m telling you is the truth,” Newton said. “The person that’s delivering the truth, you may not like. Drake Maye is a game manager.”