Drake Maye explains Patriots' practice-week decisions before Jets game

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel gave his players a chance to practice indoors on Tuesday, when the real-feel temperature was below 20 degrees, according to Mark Daniels of MassLive. Vrabel also offered to cut a meeting short to give players extra rest ahead of their "Thursday Night Football" home game against the New York Jets (2-7).

While speaking with reporters, second-year Patriots quarterback Drake Maye explained why New England players declined both of Vrabel's offers.

Patriots players don't want to take shortcuts after great start to season

"I think it’s to not take shortcuts," Maye said. "It’s to not let little things lack or slack. I think the biggest thing is to stay with what we’ve been doing. Try to keep the same mentality. [Vrabel] asked [Tuesday] to go inside, and we wanted to go outside. Just trying to not let the little things go and know that these will matter and have mattered for us in the past and will show up again."

As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET listed the 8-2 Patriots as massive 12.5-point favorites over the Jets. At the same time, DraftKings Sportsbook ranked Maye second among the betting favorites at +275 odds to win the 2025 Most Valuable Player Award. DraftKings Sportsbook also placed the Patriots fifth among the betting favorites at +700 odds to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LX.

That said, Maye recently acknowledged that he has "to make better throws in the rain" after he struggled early in New England's 28-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. According to AccuWeather, it's expected to be clear and cold (real-feel temperature around 25 degrees) when Thursday's game kicks off at Gillette Stadium.

Mike Vrabel responds to Patriots' practice-week decisions

Throughout the fall, many Patriots players have noted that Maye warmly accepted Vrabel's challenge to become a stronger leader for the team. Vrabel appears impressed with the attitude his players displayed ahead of the Jets game. 

"I think it’s the leadership," Vrabel said about his offers being declined by Patriots players. "I think that the guys that we have here — I think it starts with the coaches being able to give them a clear message. I think what the expectations are, and I think the consistency, they’ve appreciated that." 

Clearly, Patriots players don't want to fall victim to a so-called "trap game" after the Jets, who sold big-name pieces ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 10.