Drake Maye Pushes Back on Reports of Tension With Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on Wednesday rejected suggestions that he and head coach Mike Vrabel are at odds, speaking out after a rough start to the season fueled speculation about friction between the two.

“Coach Vrabel’s been one of the best football coaches I’ve had in my life,” Maye said. “I think coach Vrabel’s been one of the biggest things as to why this has been so enjoyable for me is playing for coach. I think we all feel that way in the locker room. He pushes us hard.”

Maye continued, addressing reporters directly on whether anything had shifted in his working relationship with Vrabel.

“I’ve loved playing for him, and it’s not going to change. It hasn’t changed, and it won’t change. The way he pushes me, and he coaches the quarterbacks in a way that I really respect, and I’m looking forward to getting going, proving to coach that I can lead this football team and play good football.”

The comments come after New England’s 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, a game in which Vrabel was seen embracing Maye on the sideline after the quarterback’s third turnover of the day. Maye has now thrown seven turnovers against a single touchdown through three games this season, and has been central to the team’s early struggles.

Speculation about a rift intensified this week when WEEI morning host Greg Hill said he had heard rumors of tension between the two men.

“It goes back to, despite what Mike Vrabel may have said publicly, it goes back to Drake Maye not being his guy,” Hill said on his show.

Vrabel has previously made clear his reasons for taking the Patriots job centered on Maye. “Let me just tell you why I’m here … I wanted to coach here because Drake was the quarterback,” Vrabel said.

At 1-2, the Patriots travel to face the undefeated 3-0 Buffalo Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m.