Patriots quarterback Drake Maye draws ire from fans over Aaron Rodgers 'GOAT' remark

New England Patriots backmost Drake Maye ruffled immoderate feathers wrong the instrumentality basal aft a remark helium reportedly made aft the Patriots' blowout nonaccomplishment to the New York Jets Thursday night. 

The rookie backmost made his NFL debut successful the Jets' 24-3 rout of the Patriots, replacing seasoned Jacoby Brissett successful the last 5 minutes of the game. 

New England Patriots backmost Drake Maye (10) is sacked by New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) successful the 4th fourth astatine MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

He was 12 of 18 for 98 yards but was sacked twice, adding to the Jets full of 7 sacks connected the night. 

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Thursday was a brutal world cheque for the Patriots successful the post-Tom Brady era. Aaron Rodgers, connected the different hand, shined successful his instrumentality to MetLife Stadium, helping the Jets extremity an eight-game location losing streak against New England. 

But Rodgers’ show seemingly meant a batch to much than just Jets fans. 

Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets smiles aft defeating the New England Patriots successful a crippled astatine MetLife Stadium Sept. 19, 2024, successful East Rutherford, N.J. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported aft the crippled that Maye stood by arsenic Rodgers gave an on-field interview. Maye reportedly said  "I’m waiting for the GOAT" arsenic helium waited for a postgame handshake.

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The remark, shared connected societal media, drew ire from Patriot loyalists, who weren’t excessively pleased with the remark astir a divisional rival. 

"Tom Brady was astatine the game," 1 idiosyncratic asked connected X. 

"Was Brady interviewing Rodgers," different added. 

"Patriots fans are gonna freak retired implicit this," different station said. 

Drake Maye of the New England Patriots warms up earlier a crippled against the New York Jets astatine MetLife Stadium Sept. 19, 2024, successful East Rutherford, N.J. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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Garafolo intervened successful the backmost and distant connected societal media eventually, defending Maye’s comment. 

"I recognize this is being taken a definite mode and I’m usually the skipper of Team There Can Only Be One GOAT but Maye was simply recognizing Rodgers arsenic a large QB," Garafolo wrote. "Wanted a infinitesimal to amusement his appreciation and got it. Respect for the crippled and those who came before."

Maye’s debut Thursday was not an denotation helium would beryllium the Patriots' starting backmost going forward. Head manager Jerod Mayo clarified Friday that Brissett is inactive starring the way. 

"Just truthful I’m clear: Jacoby is inactive our starting backmost until I accidental he’s not," Mayo said. 

The Associated Press Contributed to this report. 

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