Drake Maye earns Peyton Manning comparison from Joe Buck

Patriots followers may not like who Joe Buck in contrast Drake Maye to, however the “Monday Night time Soccer” play-by-play announcer tossed some fairly excessive reward the New England quarterback’s method.

Buck in contrast Maye to Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Peyton Manning in the most recent episode of NBC Sports Boston’s “Next Pats Podcast.” Whereas Maye and Manning don’t have related enjoying types, Buck believes he’s like the previous Patriots rival as a result of method he carries himself.

“He’s 23 years outdated and simply phenomenal,” Buck stated. “When he was on our manufacturing name, he hung up, and I used to be like, ‘One thing about him jogs my memory of Manning. I don’t know what it’s, possibly the Southern accent?’ Simply his demeanor, to be a 23-year-old, simply sort of blew me away.”

Buck acknowledged that Maye and Manning aren’t related as gamers, however he does suppose that the Patriots quarterback understands what it takes to be a pacesetter in the identical method that Manning did, due to their backgrounds.

“I believe it’s a maturity at a younger age,” Buck stated. “Clearly, they each come from unbelievable sports activities households. Peyton along with his youthful brother Eli, who will probably find yourself within the Corridor of Fame, and his dad Archie Manning and every little thing that household has delivered to the Nationwide Soccer League. And then you definitely’ve acquired Drake Maye along with his brothers and his dad.

“There’s simply one thing about him. Clearly, it’s not the on-field play model, however there’s a maturity there at 23 years outdated that you just simply dangle up and also you go, ‘Man, that younger man is totally different.’”

Maye’s management has garnered some reward throughout the Patriots’ locker room this season. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has acknowledged on a number of events that he’s favored how Maye has taken command of the offense, and Mike Vrabel believes that the second-year quarterback has stepped up to become a leader.

Buck additionally talked about a dialog he had with Patriots tight finish Hunter Henry forward of Sunday’s divisional spherical sport towards the Texans that spoke to Maye’s persona.

“The truth that Hunter Henry, who’s 30 years outdated, is [Maye’s] closest buddy, as he instructed me on our name, I believe says loads,” Buck stated. “He’s not hanging across the younger guys. The buddy that he’s with, [we called the Patriots’ game against the Giants] after Thanksgiving, was Hunter Henry and his household and different teammates. That’s who he gravitates to.

“There’s a mature-beyond-his-years issue with Drake Maye that I believe is obvious while you speak to him.”

Now, Buck believes that maturity has helped Maye early in his profession similarly that it helped develop Manning to turn out to be one of many sport’s high quarterbacks.

“I believe it’s evident with the best way he performs on the sphere,” Buck stated. “He limits turnovers. He doesn’t panic. He takes off on the proper time. He takes off to run and throw [at the right time]. His eyes are downfield. But when it’s not there, he doesn’t pressure it.”

Each Maye and Manning had fairly rocky rookie seasons whereas exhibiting some promise earlier than making a Yr 2 soar. Manning completed second within the MVP vote in 1999, serving to the Colts go from 3-13 to 13-3 as he completed top-four in passing yards, passing touchdowns, passer ranking, and yards per try.

Maye additionally appears destined to complete within the high two of the MVP vote in his second season. He additionally quarterbacked the Patriots to a 10-win enchancment in his second 12 months, going from 4-13 to 14-3. Maye led the league in passer ranking (113.5) and yards per try (8.9), whereas ending third in passing touchdowns (31) and fourth in passing yards (4,394).

Manning’s Yr 2 ended with a house loss to the Titans within the divisional spherical. So, Patriots followers are hoping that Maye’s Yr 2 doesn’t fully comply with Manning’s Yr 2, because the Patriots will host the Texans within the divisional spherical on Sunday.

However Buck, who’ll be on the decision for ABC and ESPN, definitely believes that the Patriots are set at quarterback once more for a really very long time.

“I believe for the remainder of the nation, they’re trying on the Patriots and going, ‘Oh, they did it once more,’” Buck stated. “They’d [Tom] Brady for 18, 19 years or no matter it was and now they’ve acquired Drake Maye, who’s settling in in Yr No. 2 and may very well be the MVP of the Nationwide Soccer League.”