Tag: New England Patriots

Hunter Henry sees strong QB comparison for Patriots rookie Drake Maye

Hunter Henry sees strong similarities between Drake Maye and Justin Herbert

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry sees similarities between quarterback Drake Maye and his former teammate, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

Henry has seen both quarterbacks up close, which means he’s one of the few qualified to make such a comparison. With that said, others made the same comparisons when Maye was coming out of college. The 22-year-old rookie has the athleticism and arm strength to back it up.

Herbert, a former Pro Bowler and AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is certainly not a bad comparison for a rookie in the league.

“There’s a lot of similarities,” said Henry, when asked about the Herbert and Maye comparisons.

Time will tell how Maye’s career pans out. Nevertheless, those words from a respected veteran like Henry certainly carry a lot of weight. At the very least, it means that the quarterback looks to be on a solid path to success.

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POLL: Who wins Sunday’s Patriots-Dolphins game?

Who wins on Sunday? Patriots or Dolphins?

The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will meet for the second time this season on Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots are coming off a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye had a stellar afternoon, going 30-of-40 passing for 282 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson provided some balance in the running game with 20 carries for 73 yards.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have been trying to find their footing after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed a significant chunk of the season. They recently picked up their second win in a row by knocking off the Las Vegas Raiders by a 34-19 margin.

Tagovailoa had an impressive showing with 288 passing yards and three touchdowns. Running back De’Von Achane also recorded 17 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. However, it was former Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith who had a breakout performance with six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots and Dolphins have a storied history against each other. The rivalry dates back to 1966. Miami has the all-time lead in the series by a 63-55 margin. They have won the last three contests.

This game will feature two teams with different trajectories. The Patriots are in rebuilding mode with a promising rookie quarterback under center, while the Dolphins are hoping to make a late run and squeeze back into the playoff hunt.

A win for the Patriots would be a major morale boost at this current juncture. However, a win for the Dolphins would keep hope alive.

This game will be an entertaining one either way. A Patriots-Dolphins matchup always seems to bring out the best in both sides. Who do you have winning Sunday’s contest? Make sure to vote in our poll below.

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Former NFL QB makes bold claim on Drake Maye as Rookie of the Year

Dan Orlovsky makes a great point….

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye should be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year, if the award was based on play alone.

The North Carolina product stood out once again in last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. He recorded 282 passing yards and two touchdowns on the day. It was only his sixth NFL start in a season where he has compiled 1,236 passing yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

The 22-year-old signal-caller certainly stands out in a rookie class that is talented at the quarterback position.

“He won’t win it because his team isn’t good enough. But just talking about the play—-Drake Maye would absolutely be right in the OROY conversation,” Orlovsky posted on the X platform.

Maye’s development has taken a major step forward since the start of the season. He has been one of the few constants on an offensive unit in flux right now.

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Announcers set for Patriots vs. Dolphins Week 12 game

The announcers have been set for Sunday’s Patriots-Dolphins game

The announcers have been set for Sunday’s Week 12 contest between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins.

Spero Dedes will handle the play-by-play duties, while Adam Archuleta will handle the analysis portion. Aditi Kinkhabwala will be on the sideline for Sunday’s game.

The Patriots will be looking for their first win over the Dolphins since New Year’s Day 2023. They lost in the last meeting between the two teams back in October by a 15-10 margin.

Jacoby Brissett was still the starting quarterback at the time, and he went 18-of-34 on the afternoon throwing for 160 yards. Rhamondre Stephenson had 12 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots hope to get back on track and earn their third win of the season after dropping a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the Dolphins will be looking to win their second straight game after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders by a 34-19 score.

Kickoff for the game is set for 1:00 p.m. ET.

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Former Super Bowl-winning coach calls Drake Maye ‘superstar’ in the making

Jon Gruden is completely sold on Drake Maye in the NFL

Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden had high praise for New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

Gruden, who now works at Barstool Sports, is famous for his quarterback evaluations. His “Gruden’s QB Camp” television series was a must-watch for football junkies everywhere.

He has seen his fair share of talented quarterbacks over the years, and he boldly endorsed Maye during a segment with Barstool.

“Drake Maye is going to be a superstar. Drake Maye is going to be everything you’re looking for. Five-star—badass. He’s a horse, man,” said Gruden.

Maye has been receiving praise from several figures around the league. From Patriots legends to his teammates, the buzz is alive and well for the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

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Patriots using unique method to develop rookie QB Joe Milton III

The Patriots are still preparing Joe Milton III behind the scenes

The New England Patriots are still keeping rookie quarterback Joe Milton III involved in the offense, and they’re doing so by a unique method.

With Milton not getting as many practice reps on the field, he has become one of the top users of the Patriots’ virtual reality system, according to coach Jerod Mayo.

The Patriots’ organization is undergoing a youth movement at the quarterback position, and Milton is a part of that movement as the third option behind Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett.

So it makes sense for the team to put a lot of emphasis on his development, even if it’s done in a non-traditional way.

Milton showed flashes of playmaking ability at various points during the preseason. It is clear he is still putting in the work, despite not being a major factor in the quarterback competition right now.

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Patriots vs. Dolphins injury report: Updates on Strange, Wise and Lowe

Here is the Patriots updated injury report on Wednesday

The New England Patriots released their first injury report ahead of their Week 12 showdown with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday.

There were several key names on the report, including Christian Barmore, Cole Strange, Vederian Lowe and Deatrich Wise Jr.

Barmore missed practice after returning to game action in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams. However, his reason for being out was deemed “not injury related.”

Strange returning was the big storyline of the day. The starting offensive guard has been sidelined with a torn patellar tendon since 2023. Here is the full injury report for the Patriots from Wednesday:

Did not participate
DT Christian Barmore, Not Injury Related – Other
T Vederian Lowe, Shoulder
DT Jaquelin Roy, Neck
DE Deatrich Wise Jr., Foot

Limited participation
S Kyle Dugger, Ankle
DT Daniel Ekuale, Elbow
S Marte Mapu, Neck
TE Austin Hooper, Neck
LB Keion White, Knee
LB Anfernee Jennings, Knee
OL Cole Strange, Knee

Full participation
LB Christian Elliss, Abdomen
LB Sione Takitaki, Knee

Christian Barmore injury update

Barmore was listed as a non-participant at Wednesday’s practice, but according to Pro Football Network’s Dakota Randall, the star defensive tackle ended up practicing after initially not being spotted during the media session.

Cole Strange injury update

Cole Strange returned to practice on Wednesday after missing all of training camp with a knee injury.

The fact that he’s even on the practice field is a good sign for the Patriots, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll play in Sunday’s game. It could take him some time to get acclimated to playing. We’ll have to see where he’s at by the end of the week.

Vederian Lowe injury update

Left tackle Vederian Lowe has been banged up this season. He’s coming off a game where he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Drake Maye. There’s hope that his absence was simply a little rest and recuperation for a nagging shoulder injury. If anything more, it could be a problem for the Patriots this week.

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Jerod Mayo confirms anticipated practice return for Patriots’ OL starter

OL Cole Strange is returning to practice

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo announced that Cole Strange would return to practice on Wednesday.

This will be Strange’s first return to football action since 2023. The guard indicated that he felt comfortable in his rehab a couple of weeks ago. Now, it appears that he is at a point where he is ready to go.

This would be the second key return in as many weeks for New England. Defensive lineman Christian Barmore returned and appeared in his first game of the season in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams.

“It’s exciting,” Mayo said on Strange’s return, via Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Strange’s return will be a boost for a Patriots offensive line that has struggled to find consistency this season. There’s hope that the former first-round pick can help the team in both run-blocking and pass protection.

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Four Patriots legends named as Hall of Fame semifinalists

Four former Patriots players made the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Four New England Patriots legends have made it to the semifinal round for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

Safety Rodney Harrison, kicker Adam Vinatieri, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and running back Fred Taylor have all made it to the next round

Harrison was one of the most dominant safeties in the Patriots’ franchise history. He recorded 446 tackles and nine sacks throughout six seasons with New England. He had 125 tackles in his first year with the team in 2003. He followed that up with 141 tackles in 2004.

Vinatieri, who played in the league for 24 years, was one of the greatest kickers in NFL history. He played in 160 games with the Patriots and made 263-of-321 field goals. He also made 367-of-374 extra points.

The game-winning kicks in Super Bowl XXXVI and XXXVIII cemented him as both an NFL and Patriots legend.

Wilfork was a staple of the Patriots’ defensive line for many seasons. He was a playmaker on the interior and amassed 517 tackles and 16 sacks in 11 years with the team. He made the Pro Bowl five times as a member of the organization and was a fan favorite.

Taylor was a part of Patriots history as well. He joined the team for two seasons in 2009-2010. He carried the ball 106 times for 424 yards and four touchdowns during his run in New England.

However, the Florida legend is best known for his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had 11,271 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns in his 11-year run in Jacksonville.

The next step in the Hall of Fame process will be cutting the list of 25 semifinalists down to 15 finalists. We’ll see how many, if any, Patriots players make the cut this time around.

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Drake Maye reacts to ongoing struggles for Patriots rookie WR

Drake Maye still has confidence in Ja’Lynn Polk.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye stuck up for wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, as the rookie continues to struggle.

Polk had a false start penalty that proved to be crucial during the Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The penalty occurred on a fourth-and-inches play late in the fourth quarter, which forced the Patriots to kick a field goal instead of having an opportunity to go for it.

Polk did not record a single catch or a target in the game. He has 11 catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns on the season. It isn’t exactly the start the team had in mind when using a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft on him.

Despite the early struggles, Maye still has confidence in Polk to figure things out.

“Just keep going. I think he’s gonna be a great player in this league. He’s a rookie, like myself. We’re going to have some good games as Patriots together,” Maye told media members. “So looking forward to keeping him going, and I think he’s getting thrown in there different times and throwing in to block some. I think he’s gotta pick up some little things, but he’s a great player and I need to find a way to get him the football.”

Polk has struggled on a Patriots team that needs all of the help it can get at the wide receiver position. His development and progression as a second-round draft pick will be important for the team’s future. 

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