Bill Belichick’s ‘Patriot Way’ still holding strong throughout Gillette Stadium

By Alexandria Evans

Despite being drafted to the Patriots on the tail end of Bill Belichick’s career, Drake Maye can still feel and understand the impact the eight-time Super Bowl champion has had on the culture in New England. 

In an interview with former NFL defensive lineman Chris Long’s podcast “Green Light”, Maye replied “Oh, for sure,” when asked whether he still felt Belichick’s imprint on the organization. 

“The ‘hard work works.’I think that is what his staple was and what he left in the organization. I think a lot of coaches, especially since we kind of stayed inside the Patriot, it’s a tree, as you call it, coaching-wise, we still kind of embraced that.” Maye added. 

Now with Belichick taking the reins at Maye’s alma mater, UNC, Maye and the Patriots will be working under Mike Vrabel, a former Pat who was just hired as head coach. Maye spoke about what it means to have Vrabel leading the squad. 

“I think that kind of maybe spices it up for us, kind of getting outside the Patriot tree, technically,” Maye said. “But I think he’s still within it because he played there as well. He knows about the defense and all that. But being somewhere else and knowing what it’s like to have success and being in the playoffs for a different city, different organization, will be awesome.” 

Following another disappointing showing this season with a 4-13 record and a last-place spot in the AFC East, New England is hoping to turn it around this upcoming year. For Patriots players and fans, the hope is that Belichick’s winning presence will still have an impact on the season.