Why Drake Maye had a problem with newest Patriots Professional Bowl picks

“I feel there’s quite a few guys on our squad that I feel are deserving. I don’t wish to pass over anyone’s identify.”

Drake Maye is heading again to the Professional Bowl. Danielle Parhizkaran / The Boston Globe

December 24, 2025 | 6:30 PM

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For the second 12 months in a row, Patriots QB Drake Maye was named a Professional Bowl participant.

After serving as an alternate final season, Maye was voted onto the Professional Bowl roster in 2025 amid his ascension as a official MVP candidate.

As such, Maye expressed loads of gratitude on Tuesday throughout his weekly assembly with the media — including that he gained loads of expertise final 12 months whereas taking part in alongside a few of the NFL’s high stars.

“Clearly, I used to be most likely the final alternative,” Maye stated of his standing as an alternate final 12 months. “They lastly obtained any individual to go. I used to be a rookie … but it surely was superior to be across the older gamers and veterans and quarterbacks. Joe Burrow and Russell Wilson … he went to some Tremendous Bowls. I obtained to spend a while with him. For me, it was superior.

“With Baker [Mayfield] and [Jared] Goff on the opposite facet. And Sam Darnold. These guys, attending to understand how they carried themselves … seeing how dangerous the style of their mouth was, and the way dangerous they wish to win … It was actually cool for me to be round them. I undoubtedly didn’t belong.”

Maye undoubtedly belongs in that class amid a season the place he has led New England to the highest of the AFC standings.

Though Maye appreciated incomes a spot within the Professional Bowl, he did take umbrage with the truth that the 12-3 Patriots will solely have two Professional Bowl members between him and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

“I feel there’s quite a few guys on our squad that I feel are deserving. I don’t wish to pass over anyone’s identify. However I don’t see frustration from the blokes [who weren’t picked],” Maye stated. “They wish to give attention to the video games forward and what we are able to do that season as a crew.

“They’re much less nervous about particular person statistics and awards and that’s what’s cool about this crew and makes me wish to be that method as nicely.”

Even when the case may be made that different gamers like Marcus Jones, Stefon Diggs, and different key cogs all warranted Professional Bowl consideration, Maye careworn that each he and his teammates have extra urgent issues to cope with at this juncture on the NFL calendar.

“Clearly, you wish to play this sport at a excessive degree, and earn the respect of your friends and your group and across the league,” Maye stated. “It’s an awesome honor, however like I stated and hold saying, I care about profitable.

“I notice what the Professional Bowl is about. It’s clearly an awesome honor. I’m not making an attempt to place that to mattress. It’s not that it isn’t a cool deal, it truly is. However now we have some extra vital video games forward, and I look ahead to that.”