Drake Maye Mic'd Up During the Best Game of His Career (So Far) is Some Vintage Patriots Porn

OK, first of all, I'm a little embarrassed that the Franchise QB who is the vessel into which I've poured all my pro football hopes and dreams would talk about being "starstruck" when he met the last Franchise QB who carried all my previous hopes and dreams up the highest mountain sports have ever seen. C'mon, Drake Maye. You might be filling the GOAT-shaped hole in my heart. But acting like a giddy fangirl around Tom Brady is untoward. It is NOT toward. This is how a mature adult is supposed to act when he meets Brady:

So get ahold of yourself, man! Show a little dignity.

That said, it's kind of funny and ironic that on the same day Drake Maye was saying this, the NFL released the footage of him Mic'd Up on the best day of his still Toddler-stage career. The game where he played the most like He Who Maye Shall Not Be Compared To. Because this is the kind of footage and audio the good people of New England became accustomed to over 20 years of unprecedented success:

This is the kind of thing we used to see on the regular. Patriots Priapism-inducing content that makes you want to call your doctor if you're still erect in four hours. Not out of concern, but to brag about it. 

I mean, there are just so many good moments. Of course the now-iconic "Superman" tribute to his North Carolina QB hero Cam Newton. Telling Hunter Henry how good he looked flying up the sideline on the short pass he took to the endzone. And I'll add that Customers Who Liked That Moment Also Ordered This:

But without a doubt, the money shot in all this was this exchange between Jedi Master McDaniels and his new Padawan:

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to need a few minutes to compose myself. But it shouldn't take long for me to be ready to keep going. …

OK, I'm back. 

Here's why this Mic'd Up content matters. Because we are seeing the emergence of not just a good young quarterback. But a highly regarded 23-year-old prospect coming into his own. In a way that goes way beyond having a good game at home against a weak opponent, but a star being born. 

Consider these numbers, some of which I can grasp and some that feel like the Periodic Table of the Elements that I forgot as soon as I pulled that C+ in high school Physics. Starting with the comparison that should never be made, and going from there:

And Rich Eisen's bold assertion is backed up by the numbers:

I'll concede that it's early in the season. That so far Maye hasn't exactly gone up against the iron of the league's defenses. And there are still a lot of mistakes that have to be cleaned up. All of that can be true and you can still be excited about what's happening before our eyes as he's making his 17th career start in Buffalo in front of the entire country. In other words, just finishing up one full season of NFL football. Meaning that the truest words spoken in 2025 so far were these:

Now if NFL Films could just do the right thing and put a mic on this kid every week. Please and thank you.