If you were tuned in last season, you probably caught the bromance brewing in Foxborough—Drake Maye and Joe Milton, two young QBs from different draft planets, somehow orbiting the same system. Maye was the golden child, the No. 3 overall pick meant to fix what Brady left behind. Milton? A Day 3 dart throw with a rocket arm and zero pressure. But despite the draft gap, the chemistry between the two looked very real. Maye even said it himself: “Joe’s my guy.”
They met at the Manning Passing Academy. Trained together. Competed. Pushed each other all season in practice. Maye got better at reading defenses. Milton let that cannon rip. And if you watched closely, the respect was mutual. The duo didn’t exactly bring back 2001 Brady-Bledsoe levels of intrigue, but they were building something—something fun, even if it didn’t always show up on Sundays.
So when the Patriots shipped Milton to Dallas this April, it seemed like a business move. No QB room drama, no media circus, just clear the runway for Maye. Makes sense, right? Until this little bombshell dropped from Ben Volin. According to the Boston Globe vet, “Maye’s family was not thrilled when Milton was drafted,” and even implied that Maye wasn’t exactly thrilled giving up week 18 to his buddy.
Volin added, “Maye left the locker room without speaking to reporters and then skipped locker room cleanout day.” Now, it’s giving drama. But let’s pump the brakes for a sec. That kind of icy narrative doesn’t really match what we saw last season. The friendship? Public. The mutual respect? Documented. So where’s this suddenly frosty vibe coming from? (Ahem, a classic Volin special, maybe?)
If you’re not familiar with the history between Ben Volin and Patriots fans, oh boy—you’ve missed a saga. Since the Belichick empire, Volin’s takes have poked the bear more than once. From Deflategate to Mac Jones being “a locker room problem” (based on a fan DM, mind you), he’s no stranger to stirring the pot in Foxborough. Some fans still haven’t forgiven him for the Mac report, and the trust? It’s hanging on by a thread.
So naturally, when Volin suggests Maye’s family was behind Milton’s exit, fans start squinting. Especially since Maye’s own comments about Milton don’t hint at any tension.
We aren’t implying that Volin’s NOT a respected name in NFL media circles. He is. It’s just hi sour chem with New England makes this one a little more ‘iffy’ then usual. So yeah, maybe Maye wasn’t thrilled to sit out Week 18. Maybe the cleanout day absence meant something. Or maybe… it’s just a slow offseason.
The post Drake Maye’s Family ‘Unhappy’ With Patriots’ Major QB Decision as Mike Vrabel Makes Amends With Big Trade, Per Report appeared first on EssentiallySports.