Patriots coach Mike Vrabel downplays talk of Drake Maye shoulder injury: ‘There’s going to be things that come up’
“No, I wouldn’t say that anybody hurt anything,” Vrabel said. “Again, this is a sport where there’s going to be things that come up."
FOXBOROUGH — Patriots coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday addressed comments he made earlier in the day during a radio appearance concerning Drake Maye’s health.
Several doctors on X, including former Chargers team doctor David Chao, raised the possibility of Maye having sustained a shoulder injury during Sunday’s win over the Broncos in the AFC Championship game.
When asked about Maye’s shoulder during his weekly appearance on WEEI, Vrabel said none of the players, including Maye, were 100 percent at this point of the season. He mentioned that football is a physical sport and that the Patriots already have played 20 games this season.
Vrabel was later asked whether his comments had gotten blown out of proportion on social media.
“Probably, and here’s what I’m going to start saying about this radio show, this is like the Miranda rights,” Vrabel said. “There’s nothing that I could say on there that could be used against me when I come back in here. So, going forward, that’s what I’m going to say.
“Those are like free interviews, I’m in there, we’re doing breakfast shots. I think that anybody, including Drake, is not 100 percent at this part of the year. We’ll do everything we can to help our players be prepared and get ready for this game.”
Maye picked up the first down that sealed the win on a footrace to the marker. He stiff-armed Denver’s Jonah Elliss on his way out of bounds. The Patriots were able to kneel down and run out the clock after that.
The Patriots quarterback described how he was feeling after the game. There were some minor things to be dealt with, he said.
“I think [there are] some bumps and bruises, but hey, that’s what it takes,” Maye said. “I think a lot of those guys in that locker room are battling through things, and I think at the same time, the best thing about it is we get another chance at it.
“Another chance to get healthy in two weeks, and we’re going to have some nicer weather, I think, knock on wood, but a chance to go win the Super Bowl that’s what it is, that’s pretty cool.”
Vrabel was asked whether Maye had injured his shoulder. He said that Maye was healthy enough to do his job.
“No, I wouldn’t say that anybody hurt anything,” Vrabel said. “Again, this is a sport where there’s going to be things that come up.
“We’ll talk about whatever status each player has for the game once we’re required to, we understand that, but we were able to function offensively, throw the football, run the football, so that’s kind of where everybody is at.”
Big game, big dreams
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, whose fourth-quarter interception gave the Patriots their final possession, said it still hasn’t quite sunk in that the team is heading to the Super Bowl.
“As a kid, you watch the Super Bowl, we always used to have Super Bowl parties,” Gonzalez said. “You just dream of it, playing, sitting there as a little kid knowing that you want to go to the NFL. Watching the biggest game of the NFL season, it’s the one that everybody wants to play in.”
Last January, Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson helped Ohio State beat Notre Dame to win the national championship.
He said he can’t believe he’s now in this spot with the Patriots, making the trip to Santa Clara, Calif., with a chance to add another title to his collection. Hoisting the Lombardi Trophy seemed out of reach for this group at the beginning of the season, but it is one win away.
“It’s honestly crazy to be going to the Super Bowl,” Henderson said. “I just remember going into the season like, ‘OK, I’ve got to face reality. We’re not going to win every game, it’s not going to be like college anymore. It’s obviously going to be hard, going to be a rough season.’
“And it’s just like, man, we’re here. Now, it’s time to win the big one. The job is not finished yet, and so we look forward to this matchup. We’ve got to prepare and work hard.”
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