After Calling Him Game Manager, Cam Newton Doesn’t Think Patriots Reached the Super Bowl Because of Drake Maye

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots edged out the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship game at Empower Field last Sunday.

After Calling Him Game Manager, Cam Newton Doesn’t Think Patriots Reached the Super Bowl Because of Drake Maye

Drake Maye, Cam Newton (Images via Fox News/Si)

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Former Carolina Panthers quarterback-turned sports analyst Cam Newton has gone off on Drake Maye. In a heated rant, he downplayed the New England Patriots’ second-year quarterback’s role in the team’s success this year.

Cam Newton has taken a shot at the New England Patriots at every opportunity he could have. In November, he called the team “fool’s gold” and predicted an early playoff exit, citing their favorable schedule.

They have proved him wrong. They eliminated the fifth-best defense in the Los Angeles Chargers, the best in the Houston Texans, and the second-best in the Denver Broncos and marched right into the Super Bowl.

However, defeating three of the best five defensive units in the league wasn’t enough for them to win a compliment from Newton. The 36-year-old made a bold claim a week back and claimed that the Patriots have had the easiest path to the Super Bowl in their history. He has steered his focus from attacking the Patriots to downplaying Drake Maye. It wasn’t long ago that he called Maye a game manager.

In a recent episode of the 4th&1 With Cam Newton, Newton stated that Maye isn’t the reason why the Patriots have made the first Super Bowl since Tom Brady left in 2020 after two-decade long tenure. He compared Maye’s Super Bowl run to quarterbacks who have made the Super Bowl on the behest of a great defense.

It’s giving Trent Dilfer, it’s giving Jim McMahon, Brad Johnson, Rex Grossman. All of those names combined benefited off a great defense alone. They’re not here because of Drake Maye. That’s just facts.

Jim McMahon and Rex Grossman had the best seasons of their career with the Chicago Bears in 1985 and 2006, respectively. Trent Dilfer made the Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2000, and Brad Johnson took the Buccaneers to a title in 2003.

Admittedly, the Patriots’ defense allowed barely 26 points this postseason. However, one can’t shrug away Maye’s numbers this season. Compared to the four names Newton put up, he has been a dominant force on the field. Maye finished the season with career-high numbers, finishing the regular season ranked fourth in passing yards, third in touchdowns, and the league leader in passer rating and completion percentage.

Newton did agree with the notion that Maye is far more talented than the four names he put up but made the claim that he was lucky to have survived the AFC Championship with the numbers he had.

Drake Maye set to become the second-youngest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl

The New England Patriots’ rising star had raised some concerns in the past week after a report of an injury emerged. Drake Maye was reportedly dealing with a shoulder injury in his throwing arm, leading many to question his availability for Super Bowl 60.

Drake Maye
Drake Maye (Image via The Boston Globe)

Maye has now put to rest the speculation and confirmed his availability for the big game on February 8, 2026. Maye told WEEI 93.7 FM:

I’m feeling good. We’re getting extra rest, and it’s not from the game, because thirty weeks of throwing four days a week adds up, but I’m ready for the Super Bowl.

The Charlotte-native would surpass former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to become the second-youngest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl. He’s only second to Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins, who was 35 days younger when he played the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XIX.

The Patriots’ head coach, Mike Vrabel, also weighed in on the speculations. He admitted that none of his men are completely healthy, considering the Super Bowl will be their 21st game of the season. However, they will see it at face value and will be well prepared to meet the Seattle Seahawks in the season finale.

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