Drake Maye believes Bill Belichick’s impact is still felt with Patriots
"Hard work works: I think that is what his staple was, what he left on the organization."
By the time Drake Maye stepped into Gillette Stadium as a member of the Patriots, Bill Belichick’s 24-year tenure in Foxborough had already come to a close.
But the future Hall-of-Fame coach’s influence and impact still resonates in New England, according to the second-year QB.
Speaking on the “Green Light” podcast with former Patriot pass rusher Chris Long, Maye acknowledged that some of the principles that Belichick instilled with the franchise are carrying over into how this rebuilding roster plans on clawing itself out of the bottom of the AFC standings.
“I think the Patriot Way, practicing in whatever weather, lifting hard, and lifting hard during the week,” Maye said. “In season out of season, it doesn’t matter. We’re running sprints. We’re running the hills. I think that’s still kind of the Patriot Way.
“The hard work works: I think that is what his staple was, what he left on the organization. I think a lot of coaches, especially because we stayed inside of the Patriots tree as you’d call it coaching-wise, we still embrace that.”
While Belichick is now coaching at Maye’s alma mater at UNC, the Patriots are moving forward with Mike Vrabel as their new head coach — a move that even Belichick offered his stamp of approval over last month.
“Certainly his entry in coaching was no surprise to anyone that knew him. Coached him at New England. I talked to him when he was at Ohio State, and then when he went to the Texans, and then, of course, at Tennessee,” Belichick said of Vrabel on the “Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN. “We practiced against them. I’ve stayed in very close contact with Mike. So I have a ton of respect for Mike.”
“I think he does a great job. He prepares his teams well, they’re very good in situational football, they’re tough, they’re competitive, they’re smart — just like he was as a player. … I think teams that he’s coached and the positions he’s coached follow very much in his playing style and his preparation style. So, I love Mike. I love everything that he stands for as a football coach, and I have a lot of respect for him. I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”
At first glance, a demanding, defensive-minded head coach like Vrabel would seemingly draw plenty of comparisons to Belichick.
But during his introductory press conference with New England last month, Vrabel stressed that he’s his own coach and isn’t looking to mimic Belichick’s approach in Foxborough.
“I’m not Bill, and I’m not Bill Cowher, I’m not anyone other than me,” Vrabel said. “I’ve taken those experiences, and I’ve tried to form what I believe is critical to the success of a football team and an organization.
“To say what those are going to look like, hopefully just as successful. And our goals will be to win the AFC East, to host home playoff games, and to compete for championships. That’s what it’s going to take.”
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