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00:00Speaking of Drake May, let's go to the phone lines to talk with the Patriots quarterback on a Patriots Monday.
00:05Drake May on WEI Afternoons is brought to you by Northeast Men's Health,
00:09the experts in treating men's sexual health with six New England offices,
00:13or at northeastmenshealth.com by Windward Mental Health.
00:16Start your healing journey now at windwardmentalhealth.com.
00:20And by John Sewer and Drain Cleaning, the name to know when your drains don't flow.
00:24Drake May, how are we doing this week after another big road win?
00:27What's going on? I'm doing pretty well. I'm Sean.
00:30Is it safe to say this is getting kind of fun?
00:33That post-game locker room with Coach Vrabel turning it up in there,
00:36and you guys flying home on a fun flight?
00:39Like, winning streak's got to be a lot of fun after all the work you guys put in.
00:44Yeah, no doubt. I think winning this league is always something you've got to enjoy.
00:47You know, it's tough to do in this league, and I'm especially stringing a couple of rows in a row together,
00:51so we've got to try to keep it going and, you know, learn from the wins and move on to next week.
00:57Drake, I'm not sure exactly what the game planning looked like last week
01:00coming off of Buffalo getting ready for New Orleans and the Brandon Staley defense,
01:05but I can't imagine that you gripping it and ripping it
01:09and throwing multiple 50-plus-yard passes was in the game plan.
01:14Did you see something heading into yesterday,
01:16or was that just sort of how the game and the script presented themselves,
01:20and then you had the moxie to let him fly and hit him on the run?
01:23Yeah, I think those are always in the game plan.
01:27I think sometimes you hit him, and sometimes it looks not there,
01:31so I'm just trying to stay off the reads and know that, shoot, when they are there,
01:37let it rip, and those guys made great plays and great catches.
01:39Obviously, not all of them counted, and we'll get to some of that later,
01:43the officiating and things wiped out,
01:45but you dropped a number of those 50-yard-type passes right in the hands of your receiver,
01:50and we, as viewers, kind of have to watch it play out on our screen,
01:54and then we see it hit the hand.
01:55When you release those balls, like, do you know it's a good ball
01:58the second that it leaves your hand?
01:59Yeah, I think it's a pretty good idea on kind of where you want to throw it
02:06and where it ends up.
02:07Sometimes, you know, you get tackled and you get hit,
02:09and you don't know exactly, you know, where it lands,
02:11so you've got to watch the replay on the big screen.
02:15But, no, those guys, the one that Steph made a great play,
02:17I think it was a questionable call, and then, you know, Pop,
02:21that one was pretty simple.
02:23He was open deep, and then the one that Mack, I wish I would have back,
02:26I mean, to put it a little more inside, kind of in play,
02:29to give him a better chance.
02:30But, no, those guys are fun to throw too deep,
02:33and I think it's one thing to enjoy.
02:37So, obviously, yesterday looked like it was going to be a two-touchdown day for Pop.
02:42Turns out to be a double-tutty day for Kayshawn Booty,
02:45who said after the game that he's done a lot of growing up over the last couple of years,
02:50got rid of some character concerns,
02:51and he's becoming more the man that he wants to be.
02:54Have you noticed a change in a maturation in him since you've been here?
02:59Yeah, I think I appreciate, you know, self-awareness and him saying that.
03:03I think that goes a long way.
03:04Yeah, he just seems to do the right stuff,
03:06and they take coaching and ask me questions,
03:08and he's one of the first guys that's going to be honest with me
03:11if what I'm saying doesn't make sense.
03:13So, he's great to get any feedback and ask him what he sees
03:17and just keep on going to make the best contests in his big time.
03:21Patriots quarterback Drake May here with us on WEI Afternoons.
03:24on a Patriots Monday.
03:26I was listening to Coach Vrabel talk about your relationship with Josh McDaniels,
03:30something we've talked about.
03:31Seems like a very good and now very productive relationship,
03:34but he also brought up your quarterback coach, Ashton Grant.
03:37And I'm wondering, he mentioned that that relationship is different
03:40than probably the one you have with Josh.
03:42What is that relationship like with Ashton Grant,
03:44and what does he do for you on a weekly basis?
03:47Yeah, he's great.
03:48He's the one that's always kind of laughing and making jokes,
03:55that can make better throws.
03:56He's always, I think, you know, the big thing at him is during the week,
04:01he's the one that we try to, you know, see, get a preview of what is third down
04:05or red zone, and he's kind of, you know, see it at the same page.
04:09So, it's cool, you know, spending time with him and the quarterback room
04:12separate from Coach McDaniels and just seeing his thoughts on things.
04:16And I think we see football the same way, and I appreciate what he's done for me
04:20and how he's still cracking jokes when I could have let go a couple more balls.
04:25But, no, he's very positive, and I appreciate having him in the room.
04:28He's been great.
04:29Drake, how flattering is it to hear people say that you are in the conversation for,
04:34if not emerging as potentially the best quarterback of the excellent 2024 draft class
04:40or that now just, you know, 18 starts into your career,
04:44a third of the way into your second season,
04:46that you belong in the NFL MVP conversation?
04:51Oh, shoot.
04:52You know, I got a lot of work to do.
04:53I think that's a long way away.
04:56You know, I think, you know, getting some more wins is what I'm focused on.
05:00The big thing with that is starting next week in Tennessee,
05:04so that's what I'm focused on.
05:05And I think that stuff all comes, you know, to life when you start winning games
05:08and keep making plays.
05:10Coach Vrabel in that post-game video on Patriots.com brought up the idea
05:14that he senses that you guys aren't satisfied,
05:17that you're winning games but you're all seeing before you're even told by coaches
05:21what needs to be better.
05:22I think you actually referenced that post-game on the field when you said,
05:25you know, the defense picked you guys up.
05:28Are you seeing that in your teammates, your offense, people around you,
05:30that, yeah, they'll celebrate the win,
05:32but everybody's aware of what needs to be better?
05:35And is that a maturing you're seeing around you in this football team?
05:39Yeah, I think it's good to see.
05:41I think it's good, but oftentimes it's good to enjoy the wins in this league.
05:45I think it's tough to come after a win and be disappointed,
05:49but I think it's good for the guys to see that.
05:51There's still more stuff to put on tape and better football to sell.
05:56I think defensively, the way they made adjustments out of halftime was huge for us.
06:01And offensively, I thought we could have put the game away and had some chances to,
06:05you know, the defense force and punts.
06:07So that's what I kind of looked at and feel like.
06:10And, you know, coaches was funny to remind us that that's what coaches were for.
06:14We just enjoy the wins and have fun playing out there.
06:19Drake, when you hear guys like Milton Williams say that they were sick,
06:23he had a fever over 100 on Saturday reportedly,
06:26then had to get an IV just so he could find his way out into the field.
06:29He gets out there, grinds it out, has another great game, plays really tough.
06:33Does that inspire you guys to try to reach in and find another level yourselves?
06:38Yeah, I think that's always pretty cool when, you know,
06:42guys are fighting through a little injuries or a little sickness to be out there
06:44and the other teammates that go the long way.
06:47And especially the way he's been playing this year,
06:49it's a good feeling having, you know, 97 out there rushing the passer
06:53and out there with the defense.
06:54So it's pretty sweet that the guys are coming to, you know,
07:00buy into the identity and playing hard and finishing longer.
07:03So it's pretty cool.
07:05If we were going to nitpick a little bit offensively
07:07and what you guys can do better,
07:09I think we could all agree running the ball would be something
07:12that would help balance out the offense.
07:14Do you feel like you guys are close there?
07:16Obviously you get as good a vantage point on that as anybody.
07:19Is it coming?
07:21Is Josh McDaniels told us patience earlier in the week?
07:24So what do you see going on there?
07:27I think we're close.
07:28I think just the guys and, you know, just the one guy beating the guy
07:35over the top on the outside zone stuff or the one guy, you know,
07:41sticking out of his arm and making the tackle
07:43and tripping up the running back, we're close.
07:44I think those guys are doing a great job in the passing game.
07:47And I think these runs, you know, when I started hitting big for us,
07:50it's going to be refreshing, you know, seeing that, you know,
07:53some of the big runs and me just chasing the pile would be pretty cool.
07:57I imagine you guys had a pretty solid week of practice
08:01coming off the huge win with Buffalo,
08:04making sure that you guys didn't ride into a letdown game in New Orleans.
08:08And now you guys will be preparing for another emotionally charged game,
08:13returning to where Mike Vrabel used to coach in Tennessee.
08:16I'm not sure if you heard, but about 20 minutes ago, Drake,
08:19it was announced that the Tennessee Titans let their head coach,
08:23Brian Callahan, go.
08:25So it should be quite the environment for you guys.
08:28Are you expecting an emotional Mike Vrabel
08:30and a really goosed-up week of practice?
08:34I don't know.
08:35I think you expect a goosed-up week from Coach every week.
08:38He's always goosed up.
08:39And I think that's the best thing about him.
08:41He's not going to change for the opponent or a new week.
08:43He's going to stay honest.
08:46He wants him to practice hard.
08:47And I think the big thing is that's the first time hearing the news.
08:51But you know with a new head coach or interim,
08:53the guys usually come together and play hard for whoever it is.
08:57So we're going to have a tough challenge
08:59and one that we need to get on early and start studying these guys up.
09:03Speaking of Vrabel's juice,
09:05we've obviously heard the draft story about working out Will Campbell
09:08and letting him hit him and putting him on his butt.
09:11And we've seen him playing safety in training camp
09:13and things of that nature.
09:15During these game weeks, does he ever rush the passer?
09:18Does he ever do drills with you, try to bat down balls?
09:20Does he ever do any of that?
09:24Sometimes it's 7-on-7 down in the red zone.
09:26He'll come after me as a defensive end.
09:29Try to work on scramble, go down there.
09:31And then recently, he's been playing a little bit
09:33in the pre-practice jogs of nose guard on defense for offense.
09:39So it's been pretty fun seeing him in there.
09:43I've got to follow that up with,
09:45has he ever put himself in at tight end the same way that he used to?
09:49I'm sure he hasn't reminded you a million times
09:51that he caught all 10 targets that were thrown to him
09:53in multiple touchdowns in the NFL.
09:55Yeah.
09:56No, he hasn't lined up at tight end.
09:57But I heard him say the other day that he created ball security
10:01very intently to us that he never really had to focus on ball security
10:06because he was always in the end zone when he caught it.
10:09Drake, I know you mentioned it post-game,
10:12praising the fans that traveled to New Orleans.
10:15The passion of Boston sports fans,
10:17were you aware of what you were coming to when you were drafted?
10:21Has it surprised you?
10:22Has it been a positive surprise to you?
10:24How have you come to know the Boston sports fans?
10:26Obviously, growing up as a sports fan,
10:29you're kind of aware of the big-time sports cities.
10:32And you can see the Red Sox playing for the World Series.
10:38And my dad is talking about the Celtics and Larry Bird
10:41and the great teams here in Boston and Bruins, obviously.
10:45So I think you see all these great teams that Boston has
10:48and have had something to cheer for.
10:49And I think that's just carried on into the passion every year,
10:53year in, year out.
10:54And I think that's what's really cool about this city.
10:56And like I said, in the post-game,
10:59getting something to cheer for and we continue doing that.
11:02I can give you something to cheer for tonight, Drake.
11:04Maybe the Atlanta Falcons
11:06because there's a double Monday Night Football header coming up tonight.
11:09And if the Falcons beat the Bills,
11:11you are going to wake up in first place in the AFC East.
11:14Did you ever think that could potentially happen six games into year two?
11:17You know, that's one of the things that comes with our goal
11:21at the beginning of the year is winning the division.
11:22And I think it's a long season.
11:26So I think, you know, being tied in the division,
11:28you know, can mean something now.
11:29But you're not having any years.
11:31You start cracking like, hey, we got to see where our goal was.
11:36So we got a long season ahead and we got a lot of work to do.
11:39But, no, I think it would be cool to see that that's an insight
11:42and a real possibility.
11:44You mentioned a number of times the end of last year, offseason,
11:47wanting to win more, need to win more, got to win more.
11:50Well, you guys are winning more.
11:52Does that create more expectations and pressure
11:54or does it make the work life easier?
11:59I think it takes some pressure off.
12:00I think it takes some pressure off of kind of knowing what it takes
12:05to get the win call and kind of eases the guys,
12:11kind of builds confidence and builds momentum.
12:13And I think the biggest thing about it is you got to come back
12:16and do it, you know, the next week.
12:17And this is the NFL.
12:18And you get linked with these teams and the parity in this league.
12:21So you got to bring it every week.
12:22And I think that's one of the best things about, you know, winning
12:24is to know, you know, what it took last week
12:26and how much better we can play
12:28and what we left out there so we can do better.
12:31Drake, I think a lot of fans were excited yesterday
12:34because a fan favorite, Efton Chisholm, was active yesterday.
12:37He was on kickoff duty, didn't make his way into the rotation
12:42at wide receiver yet.
12:44What have you seen from him in practices?
12:45And do you think maybe he'll crack the rotation sooner than later?
12:48Yeah, he just keeps filling up on scouts.
12:51He's doing some great stuff on scouts.
12:53He's making plays, making it tough on Marcus Jones
12:55and our defense and backs.
12:58So I think he's close on some of those kickoff repairs.
13:00I told him just to hit it, just to hit it and accelerate
13:03once he kind of reaches the threshold of some of the defenders.
13:06And he's got a chance to take one back.
13:09So it was fun to see him in there
13:11and see him get his first, you know, real action.
13:13All right, Drake, we're going to try something new here.
13:16We want to get to know you a little bit better,
13:17the personality, the off-field Drake May.
13:20So we thought, what better than questions
13:22under the umbrella of may or may not?
13:25So we're just going to throw something at you.
13:26And if you like it and it's part of your world, it's a may.
13:29And if you don't, it's a may not.
13:31And this may or may not go well.
13:33So we'll see what happens.
13:34In the spirit of Halloween, horror movies, may or may not?
13:39No, not a fan of horror movies, so it may not.
13:43I agree.
13:44What's the point of being scared?
13:45Life is scary enough, right?
13:46Who wants to add the anxiety to your entertainment?
13:49All right.
13:50Was that okay?
13:51You like that?
13:52We're going to visit that moving forward, you think?
13:55Is it one question at least?
13:57Yeah, well, we may grow.
13:58We wanted to dip our toe in the water,
14:01see how you handled it.
14:01Is that okay?
14:04Yeah, well, I mean, I feel like it's pretty quick questions.
14:07It's one question to grow the light.
14:10All right, so we'll grow it next week.
14:11We had one of your family friends in North Carolina
14:14actually called in last week after the interview
14:16and suggested sort of an idea of that nature.
14:19So we'll see where it goes.
14:20But now it's time for the quarterback question of the week,
14:23brought to you by Northeast Men's Health,
14:24the experts in treating men's sexual health
14:26with six New England offices,
14:28or at northeastmenshealth.com.
14:31And the quarterback question of the week
14:33comes from Doug in Danvers.
14:36And Doug said,
14:37without getting into specifics from yesterday,
14:39what is your general mentality dealing with officiating
14:42and perceived bad calls that you have to overcome?
14:47You know, I'm pretty calm with officiating.
14:50I think it's part of the game.
14:51I think I need to maybe give it to the refs a little more
14:55on some calls that I don't agree with.
14:57But I think that's kind of later in my career
14:59when you kind of build some notoriety.
15:02So early on in my career,
15:04I'm just trying to be nice to the refs
15:05and hopefully get to know
15:09and get some calls at the end of the day.
15:12But I think those calls yesterday,
15:13I didn't really notice what they were calling
15:16and what has happened.
15:17My eyes are downfield.
15:19So you see them back on the tape afterwards
15:22and it's frustrating.
15:23But, you know, they have a tough job
15:25and I think at some point
15:27it becomes a little frustrating
15:30but try to hold their emotions in.
15:32It's also hard to go after the referees
15:34when you're already in the bench area
15:36celebrating the touchdown you think they threw
15:38before the five-minute later flag, right?
15:41When you're already in the bench area,
15:42it's a little tough.
15:45Exactly.
15:45That was one of the latest flags I've ever seen.
15:48So we were like,
15:49I think I was really walking off
15:50about to sit down.
15:51Yeah, I'll say it for you.
15:52It's the worst call I've ever seen.
15:54Drake, appreciate you joining us
15:56and we'll talk to you next week, bud.
15:59Thank you guys.
16:00Have a good one.
16:00Go Pats.
16:01We've got to go Pats.
16:02All right.
16:03We've got to thank you guys.
16:04Go Pats.
16:05And I can hear the SMH going on behind the glass
16:10because Stiz Grimey,
16:11the biggest horror movie fan in the world,
16:13now knows his QB1 doesn't like horror movies.
16:16That's all right, though.
16:17You know what?
16:17We've got some more personal.
16:19Great interview, boys.
16:20And Drake's really starting to grow on me.
16:23He's growing on me
16:24and it helps when you're an MVP candidate
16:26and you're winning games
16:27and you're throwing three touchdowns
16:28and 50-yard bombs
16:29like it's what you do when you roll out of bed.
16:31That all helps,
16:32but it also helps when we start a new bit
16:34and he goes,
16:34that's all you got?
16:35I thought there'd be more of those.
16:36So thank you, Drake.
16:37We will add to the may or may not questions next week.
16:40Fitzy, get some good ones ready
16:42for next Patriots Monday.
16:43The second he said,
16:45that's all you got,
16:46I was like,
16:46listen, I can fire 20 at you right now,
16:48but you know what?
16:49Better to slow play it.
16:50I think next week we hit him with like a six pack.
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