The Patriots’ Week 7 win over the Tennessee Titans meant a great deal to the locker room, even if head coach Mike Vrabel – who was fired by the Titans two seasons ago – didn’t let on what was at stake for him, personally.
“It meant a lot to us, him downplaying, not making a big deal…what’s interesting versus what’s important and he cared about us,” Maye said during his weekly ‘Patriots’ Monday’ appearance on ‘WEEI Afternoons.’ “He cared about his team and he said that was in the past. Now he’s moved on, and he’s worried about us. Shoot, we love playing for coach.”
The Patriots trampled the Titans, 31-13, and Maye posted another stellar performance. He finished the day with two touchdowns and over a 90% completion percentage, making franchise history. New England remains atop the AFC East with 5-2 record.
He related the win to a game he played with Myers Park High School in Charlotte, after transferring from William A. Hough High School.
“I know I had a similar experience back in high school, when I left my old high school and played my old high school in a game and we beat them.
I know it’s not to the level of what coach had, being a head coach in the NFL,” he said.
Maye had the honor of awarding his coach the game ball in the visitors’ locker room after the win.
“I know that it just means more,” he said. “It means more for him, going back to a place where he’s had history and great success. We wanted to win it for him. It was cool to see him kind of, care in the locker room and show some emotion.”