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Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Drake Maye embracing leadership role in his second season, and other observations from Patriots training camp
Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Hunter Henry, Ja'Lynn Polk, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Kyle Williams joined Maye and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs not only for throwing sessions but for dinners, rounds of Spikeball, jet-skiing, and more. 'You miss those guys for a month,' Maye said Wednesday. 'You just want to get back and get a refresher for them, whether that's route-wise, play-wise. I think the most important thing is just bonding together, getting together, going out to eat, having some fun, and getting some work in. I was glad that those guys came out and showed up.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up This offseason represented a marked change for Maye. After spending training camp last year deferring to veteran Jacoby Brissett, not wanting to overstep as a rookie, the 22-year-old Maye has now been thrust into a leadership role. Advertisement Maye said that transition is something he and Vrabel have discussed. 'He does a great job of giving me points where I can improve, points where, 'Hey, maybe do this,' ' Maye said. 'I think he's also letting me go and kind of letting me see where I'm at. I think it's a challenge for me to lead this football team and lead this offense.' Advertisement Wednesday's practice was relatively humdrum — the team isn't practicing in pads yet — but Maye still recognized the importance of setting the tone. He stressed the value in taking every practice seriously, no matter the circumstances. 'I think practice translates to the games,' Maye said. 'It's hard to get this simulation. It's not basketball. You can't go get shots, open 3-pointers. There's nothing like being in the mix of it with a lot of bullets going. So, I'm trying to earn my stripes in practice. And then from there, just try going along and hopefully win some games. And I think that'll help.' The Patriots underwent significant roster turnover this offseason, with close to half of the players being new faces. Of the players returning, Maye said he wants to set an example for the rest of the team — and some have already noticed. 'He's definitely becoming a leader,' Douglas said. 'I feel like this is his team.' Patriots quarterback Drake Maye connected with some of his fans on Day 1 of training camp. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Other notes and observations from the first training camp practice of the year … ⋅ Owner Robert Kraft briefly met with the media before practice to discuss the team's 'Pawtriots' initiative, a dog adoption program that gives fans a chance to take home a pet from the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Kraft spoke only briefly about the upcoming season, saying he's hopeful this camp marks 'the start of a new chapter' after back-to-back 4-13 records. 'I think back to 31 seasons ago and remember being a season ticket-holder,' Kraft said. 'We only had one home playoff game before our family bought it. I remember how I felt in 1978 when we lost to the Houston Oilers [in the divisional round]. Earl Campbell ran for over 100 yards. I dreamt of owning the team and trying to create something special. Except for the last two years, I think we've done really well.' Advertisement Kraft also expressed excitement about the opportunity to reconnect with Vrabel, who played eight seasons in New England and won three Super Bowls. 'He was a little bit tough when he was a player,' Kraft said. 'He represented the union. I remember — this is the only stadium that's fully private — so we had to invest in the land around it to hopefully get economic activity to justify us doing this. He wanted the revenue to go to the union for the [salary] cap. I remember duking it out with him. Now that we have totally aligned interests, I hope he can bring that same spirit and energy.' Although commentary from an eternal optimist such as Kraft can sometimes fall flat, there are reasons to believe the Patriots will improve this season. Vrabel already has set the standard with his no-nonsense approach, while the team addressed some of its key weaknesses in free agency and the draft. 'I feel good about the foundation of what we have now,' Kraft said. 'Now we have to go execute and make that happen.' Patriots owner Robert Kraft, wife Dana Blumberg, and dog Heisman arrive at the field for the opening of training camp. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff ⋅ An initial surprise absence from Wednesday's practice was Polk, who was not on the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) list headed into camp. Polk later made an appearance on a stationary bike but did not participate in team drills. The 2024 second-round pick was a limited participant throughout spring practices while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Advertisement In attendance to watch practice was Ron Wolf, Hall of Fame general manager and the father of executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, as well as quarterback Brian Hoyer. ⋅ After getting cleared to practice fully, Diggs, just nine months removed from his ACL tear, will be managed throughout camp in order to not overload his knee. But he's certainly made an early impression. 'I'm super excited to play football, earning the respect of my teammates, earning the respect of my coaches,' he said. 'That's all I want to do right now. I'm taking it day by day. A lot of people want to throw a lot of anticipation out there, getting excited. You can't get too excited. It's Day 1. I just want to conquer Day 1.' The fact that Diggs was able to practice from the get-go allows him to help build rapport and trust with Maye, along with the rest of the offense. 'He made some plays out here today,' Maye said. 'It's awesome being able to throw to a guy like that. Any time when you feel like he's not open, he's going to go make a play for you.' Advertisement The 31-year-old Diggs also spent time before practice interacting with the crowd and playing catch with cheering kids. He could be on his way to becoming a fan favorite, especially if production follows suit. Related : ⋅ Williams probably had the catch of the day, hauling in a pass with Christian Gonzalez in coverage. The rookie finished with two receptions during 11-on-11 drills. 'He was backside one-on-one with Gonzo,' Maye said. 'He made a big-time catch. Strong hands. I told him to maybe sell it a little more, just try to give him a go-route feel. But I think he's coming along. He's looking good.' Williams developed a reputation in college for his ability to make contested catches and win one-on-one matchups — and, so far, he has delivered. Reeling in a catch over Gonzalez makes the play all the more impressive. 'Good for a rookie to make a play like that,' Maye said. 'I think he is just going to get better and better.' ⋅ The left guard competition is underway, with 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace, 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange, and rookie Jared Wilson in the mix. Strange appears to be the leader for the starting job, as he has the most experience at the position and also took snaps with the first team during the spring. Wilson, meanwhile, took additional reps as a backup center to Garrett Bradbury. Left guard remains the biggest question mark across the offensive line, but there is pressure on the unit as a whole. The Patriots are still practicing without pads, so it's difficult to comprehensively evaluate the line. Nicole Yang can be reached at
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
The chance to work with Josh McDaniels, and play alongside Stefon Diggs, has Patriots receiver DeMario Douglas fired up
The 5-foot-8-inch, 192-pound Douglas tied for the team lead with 66 catches last year, and finished with 621 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His 115 receptions over the last two years are the most among Patriots receivers. He's been the best and most consistent part of the passing game, an occasional bright light in an otherwise woeful stretch. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But Douglas is aware that the opportunity to work with McDaniels gives him the chance to take his game to another level. Advertisement 'He's a good guy, first,' said Douglas shortly after Wednesday's practice finished. 'Before anything, before we went over plays, he called me and he spoke from the heart, and I feel like that's the coach that you need. Especially as an OC. So, we got close there. 'On the field, I just have to work to gain his trust, you know? That's my duty to fill that role and help this team win.' Over the years, the Patriots' coaching staff has been known to break out film of former stars as a way to help players refine their game. Receivers have talked about film sessions that include highlights from receivers such as Welker, Edelman, and Randy Moss. Douglas said he's had the chance to sit with McDaniels, watch film, and take notes, something that's helped him push forward. Advertisement 'He'll go show me some old film and be like, 'It'll be just like this,' ' Douglas said of McDaniels. 'And I'll come out to practice and be like, 'Man, it was exactly like how he showed me.' The game doesn't change. It just gets faster.' Two other elements that should help Douglas this season: One, According to Douglas, Diggs's presence should pay dividends, on and off the field. 'He's a dog. He talks ,' Douglas said. 'He talks a lot of junk, but it's good. You need that. He's a constructive criticism type of guy. He'll tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. And I feel like that's what you need as a big brother.' And two, there's Advertisement 'The throwing, obviously [was fun], but us bonding,' Douglas said. 'We had a hoop in the garage. We were in there hooping. We played Spikeball. I feel like stuff like that got us closer. We did extra activities.' It's the sort of leadership Douglas endorses heading into the season. '[Maye is] definitely becoming that leader,' Douglas added. 'He brings energy into the facility and on the field. He says nothing but encouraging things. If something goes bad, he does nothing but lift us up.' Christopher Price can be reached at
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Broncos QB Bo Nix answers ‘10 burning questions,' including his favorite player
Broncos QB Bo Nix answers '10 burning questions,' including his favorite player Before Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix enters his second season as the established quarterback, he took the time to speak to Sports Illustrated and answer 10 "burning questions" about his life. Everything was on the table, from his favorite childhood player to his pregame routine. The first question Nix was asked was about his favorite childhood player, and his answer was a former Denver Bronco. Nix's favorite player growing up was former Florida standout and Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. "I enjoyed the role model that he was to so many guys out there," said Nix. "He used his platform to glorify God, and that's what I want to do." Outside of football, Nix has a lot of hobbies. "Whether it's going out there and playing a round of golf, or playing a board game at the house with your friends and family, or if it's going outside and playing pickleball or Spikeball, I just always enjoy that competitive nature and I enjoy, you know, working on different athletic skills," said Nix. Entering Year 2, Nix's teammates (both newcomers and his coach) are impressed with his work ethic and his leadership. He comes into 2025 with new offensive weapons at his disposal and continuity in Sean Payton's elaborate offensive scheme. Those key factors are all indicators Nix could improve on his impressive rookie campaign and not have a sophomore slump. Watch the three-minute video below, and get to know your quarterback better. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
