FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Maye’s way: When NCAA rule changes went into effect three years ago that allowed athletes to sell their name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, it dramatically changed the landscape of college sports. This is where University of North Carolina head football coach Mack Brown starts when giving insight into quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots’ top pick in the NFL draft at No. 3 overall.
“Every NIL deal, before he took the opportunity, he made sure that one of his teammates was involved with it,” Brown told ESPN in an interview. “They would call and somebody would want him to represent their company or such, and he’d say, ‘That’s fine, but I’m going to get the receivers involved too.’ Or the seafood restaurant wants to give him free meals for a year, he says, ‘Great, but you have to get the offensive line too.’ It was always ‘somebody on this team is going to do it with me.’ That’s just kind of the kid he is.”
The approach extended beyond his Tar Heel teammates, as Maye teamed with quarterback Sam Howell, his close friend who’s now with the Seahawks, to direct NIL funds to support a local nonprofit organization with a goal to feed underprivileged children.
“If I could, I would adopt him. He’s that good of a person and role model,” Brown said. “He wants everything he does to be right — to his community, his team, his teammates and also to make sure he helps young people learn and make better decisions.”
Maye faced an important decision after the 2022 season, his first year as a starter when he set school records for completions (342) and passing yards (4,321) and was named ACC Player of the Year. His offensive coordinator Phil Longo was leaving for a job at the University of Wisconsin, the type of change that can lead players to consider other options as well, especially with increased NIL opportunities.
“There were a lot of people with our lack of free agency, but tampering, trying to get Drake to leave. First thing he did, he walked into my office and said, ‘I’m not leaving. You don’t have to worry about that.'” Brown recalled. “He’s a guy that said, ‘I don’t play this game for money. I’m going to make my money on the back end. I love this school and am going to play at this school.'”
Deep family ties to North Carolina played a factor. Maye’s father, Mark, was a quarterback at North Carolina (1983-1987) and later served as a graduate assistant on Brown’s coaching staff. Maye’s mother, Aimee, also attended UNC, along with brothers Luke (a key part of the 2017 national championship basketball team) and Beau (his roommate whom he refers to as his best friend). Another brother, Cole, attended University of Florida and won a baseball national championship.
When Maye took part in the Patriots’ traditional photo for the first-round pick at Gillette Stadium on Friday, he had his brothers alongside him, in addition to his girlfriend, Ann Michael (they’ve been dating since the seventh grade).
“This is my squad,” Maye said. “If you’re getting me, you’re getting them.”
Brown called it a very proud moment, reflective of a player he refers to as “one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around.”
“He’s not a baby. He’ll snap back if something is not fair, and he’ll have a quip every now and then with a grin on his face,” he said. “But he’s about as perfect a person as you could put in one of those positions. It helps our game when somebody who does everything right is that talented and handles himself in that manner.”
2. QB plan: Now that the Patriots have Maye, a high-ranking executive from an NFL team opined that arguably the most important thing for them to do is clarify the roles of coaches in his development.
The Patriots have…
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