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‘He’s way better than I thought’: Bill Simmons explained why he’s impressed with Drake Maye’s emergence
"I’ve never seen a quarterback throw the deep ball better than this."
Bill Simmons is hyped about Drake Maye: With Drake Maye leading the resurgent Patriots to a 6-2 start to the season, it’s probably not a big surprise that one of the more prominent New England fans in media is savoring the success.
Bill Simmons, former “Boston Sports Guy” and founder/CEO of The Ringer, took a victory lap in the wake of the Patriots’ recent 32-13 win over the Browns.
“I’ve never seen a quarterback throw the deep ball better than this,” Simmons said of Maye during a recent episode of his eponymously-named podcast. “He doesn’t miss ever.
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“When we have a guy down the field and he’s got a step, Maye hits him in stride, it feels like 90 percent of the time,” added the longtime sports personality.
Simmons may have offered a slightly optimistic appraisal of Maye’s sliding (something which Vrabel has cited as an ongoing point of improvement for the young quarterback). Still, his assessment of Maye’s downfield passing is mostly on point. The young QB leads the league in most completions of 20 yards or more.
Not everyone is thrilled by the development. Simmons’ friend and co-podcaster, Sal Iacono (known as “Cousin Sal”) couldn’t help by sarcastically note the short period of time the Patriots have been rebuilding since the departure of Tom Brady.
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“It’s depressing. This shouldn’t be happening for you,” Iacono joked. “You should have a Cleveland Browns situation where you [have] worse than middling quarterbacks for like 25 years. It’s crazy you get right back on the horse like this.”
“We served our six-year penance,” Simmons claimed.
Looking back at the 2024 NFL Draft, Simmons claimed he couldn’t believe it was controversial that Maye would turn out to be a good quarterback.
“I think it’s crazier that there was such adamant debate about him heading into that draft,” said Simmons. “Heading into that draft, some people were like, ‘This guy’s going to be a bust. This guy’s like Mitch Trubisky. He has the tools, he’s not going to be able to put it together.’ I was all in on him, but he’s way better than I thought.”
Simmons’ recollection of his thoughts on the Patriots’ decision to pick Maye third overall is mostly accurate. Though he consistently reiterated his desire (and later, approval) for New England to pick the then-North Carolina quarterback, Simmons did entertain the notion of possibly trading the pick to the Giants. Ultimately, the Patriots decided to stay with the pick, and chose Maye.
“To be this good at this age with this few games, and to be this dramatically better than you were a year ago when you had no coach, no weapons, no blocking,” Simmons explained of Maye. “They don’t have the greatest blocking, but it’s OK. The weapons are better, and he’s just way smarter about everything.”
Trivia: Of every Patriots quarterback to attempt at least 1,500 career passes for the team, who holds the highest completion percentage aside from Tom Brady?
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(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: A first-round pick by the Patriots in the 1980s, he was drafted out of Illinois.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics got a win for the first time in the new season, improving to 1-3 thanks to a 122-90 defeat of the Pelicans on Monday night.
On Wednesday, the Celtics will host the Cavaliers at TD Garden, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
The Bruins were routed by the Senators on Monday, falling 7-2. Boston will be back on the ice tonight to play the Islanders at home at 7:15 p.m.
And this Sunday, the Patriots will face the Falcons at 1 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Simons scores 25 points as the Celtics earn their first victory by beating the Pelicans 122-90
- Anfernee Simons, Celtics catch fire late, blow out Pelicans for first win: 8 takeaways
- Bruins’ struggles continue with blowout loss to Senators 7-2
- Former NFL star Adrian Peterson arrested in Houston suburb on DWI and gun charges
- Why Monday’s setback against Ottawa might have been the Bruins’ most discouraging result yet
- Breer: Belichick, Kraft could be battling for spot in 2026 Hall of Fame class
- Myles Garrett gives ringing endorsement of Patriots’ future with Drake Maye, Will Campbell
- Rob Gronkowski FaceTimed Tom Brady while interviewing Drake Maye
- ‘Swag-less at times’: Mike Vrabel joked about Drake Maye, defended Will Campbell, discussed NFL trade deadline
- Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman slams Yankees, says he’s rather ‘retire’ than play for New York
Mostly a highlight: Josh Minott has been a positive addition for the Celtics in the new season, though the dismount could use a little work.
Win No. 1 for the Celtics: The Celtics got a first win in the 2025-26 season thanks to a strong fourth quarter.
On this day: In 2007, the Red Sox defeated the Rockies 4-3 in Game 4 of the World Series, completing a four-game sweep to clinch the team’s second title in in four years.
Daily highlight: At the end of a marathon Game 3, Freddie Freeman gave the Dodgers a 2-1 series lead with an 18th-inning walk-off.
Trivia answer: Tony Eason
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