Drake Maye reports on exchange with ‘GOAT’ Aaron Rodgers after Pats-Jets originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Drake Maye didn’t want to miss this unique opportunity.
The Jets had just defeated Maye’s New England Patriots 24-3 at MetLife Stadium, and New York star quarterback Aaron Rodgers led his Aftermath interview with Kaylee Hartung from Amazon Prime while the players gradually left the field.
But Maye stayed on the field for Rodgers’ entire two-minute interview and then ran over to shake the veteran quarterback’s hand after his interview.
“I’m waiting for the GOAT,” Maye told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo before his exchange with Rodgers, which lasted all of five seconds.
Mayes’ choice of words might anger some Patriots fans who recognize only one GOAT: franchise icon Tom Brady. But it seemed less about disrespecting Brady and more about the rookie QB paying respect to a player he idolized as a kid.
“He was my favorite player growing up,” Maye told Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald about Rodgers. “I had a phone case with Aaron Rodgers on it for about five years.”
“He gave a press conference and I came back late, but I wanted to let him know that I’m a big fan. I enjoyed watching him tonight, even though it was against us. But I’m always a fan first at heart.”
Maye literally grew up watching Rodgers, who made his NFL debut in 2005 when Maye was just 3 years old and won his only Super Bowl when the North Carolina native was 8. Maye has expressed his admiration for Brady in the past — he also called Brady the GOAT, by the way — but the fact that he actually got to play against Rodgers made Sunday extra special, despite the final outcome.
Rodgers, meanwhile, kept his message to the Patriots’ third pick brief. He made his NFL debut late in the fourth quarter, completing 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards and 12 rushing yards.
“He said, ‘Good luck, stay healthy and just hang in there,'” Maye Kyed said of Rodgers’ message. “I just wanted to see him. It was pretty cool tonight.”
Head coach Jerod Mayo did not confirm who will start at quarterback in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers, but it will likely be veteran Jacoby Brissett in quarterback mode next Sunday, with Maye again available for observation.
