I‘d have voted for Drake Maye if I were an NFL MVP voter. But I’m guessing, if Patriots coach Mike Vrabel were hooked up to a lie-detector, he’d be a little happy that Matthew Stafford was selected instead of Maye.
Maye put up better overall stats despite playing behind a worse offensive line and throwing to lesser receivers. While Maye gets dinged for playing a weak schedule, some of that should be negated by an easy comparison.
Maye and the Patriots beat the Falcons and Panthers and both of them beat Stafford and the Rams.
L.A. didn’t beat anyone who beat New England.
So instead of having a guy with a new trophy under center in Super Bowl 60, the Patriots will have a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder.
Vrabel said on Thursday that he’ll use whatever motivation or inspiration was available to him to spark his guys.
I’d imagine that “Hey Drake, they think Stafford is better than you” isn’t bad for pressing the buttons of a famously competitve player.
In reality, Maye shouldn’t and doesn’t need motivation to want to play well in the Super Bowl. But at this point, an extra volt or two between two great teams can’t hurt. And it’s not just Sunday. Drake Maye will still be MVPless and motivated next year.
Given how much he’ll have already achieved, leaving at least one more rabbit to chase can’t be a bad thing.
Outtakes from a busy week…
Get off the stage
Super Bowl Opening Night/Media Night has become amateur hour. There used to be a handful of legitimately clever folks who moved their way through the event, asking funny questions and amusing moments.
Now it’s become overrun by wannabe influencers. But for one night, it’s harmless even if it’s goofy. But some of these people are hanging around and repeating the act for the rest of the week. When they’re still asking, “Which of your teammates would be killed first in a zombie apocalypse?” on Thursday, they’ve stayed too long.
Worst trade of all-time?
The Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for 29 games of Anthony Davis.
That’s mindblowing.
That trade looked bad when it happened and has somehow gotten worse as time passes. In fact, let’s rank it:
The Top 5
The Top 5 NBA dumbest trades of all time.
5 — Nets traded four first-round picks, including one that became Jaylen Brown, for well-past-their-prime Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
4 — Super Sonics traded Scottie Pippen for Olden Polynice
3 — Bucks traded Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor.
2 — Warriors trade Hall of Famers Robert Parish and the pick that turned into Kevin McHale for Joe Barry Carroll.
1 — Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis
Real Jeopardy! Clue
Sports clues from actual editions of America’s favorite quiz show. As always, mind the date
CATEGORY: WINTER $800
Date: Dec. 16, 2025
This Norwegian skater was only 11 when she competed in her first Olympics–the very first Winter Olympics in 1924
— Answer below
Today in Boston Sports History
Feb. 6
1958 — Ted Williams signs a contract with the Boston Red Sox for $135,000, making him the highest-paid player in major league history.
2005 — The New England Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years, 24-21 over the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s their ninth straight postseason victory, equaling Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.
Lightning round
- The Celtics shed salary and still appear to have gotten better, or at least more balanced. Plus, they have to look like a pretty attractive landing spot for a buyout candidate.
- For all the people who had no sympathy toward Robert Kraft or Bill Belichick being excluded from the Hall of Fame, it didn’t help L.C. Greenwood or Ken Anderson get in either. The system failed them, too.
- Anyone surprised that Tom Brady didn’t align himself fully with the Patriots for this Super Bowl hasn’t been paying attention.
- If Sandis Vilmanis’ hit on Charlie McAvoy wasn’t worth supplemental discipline, I’m not sure what’s going on in the NHL.
- D’Ernest Johnson has the easiest Super Bowl week of anyone. The veteran running back on the Patriots’ practice squad will almost certainly be elevated on Sunday for the game. But as a practice squad player, he doesn’t have nearly the time commitments during the week.
- Drake Maye might be the only person to have his joints feel better after flying cross-country.
- Why has Seattle never hosted a Super Bowl?
Real Jeopardy! Question:
Who is Sonja Henie?
Finally…
Happy National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day to those who celebrate.
