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BARRETT: Patriots’ showers bring Maye flowers

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Maye the force be with you. Hop on the Mayeflower.

OK, I’m done with all of that. I just had to get them out of my system because we’ve won zero games in four weeks.

However you want to say it, the Drake Maye era has officially started in New England. The rookie quarterback out of North Carolina is set to make his debut in Sunday’s 1 p.m. home game against Houston.

Better yet, the Patriots are wearing their red throwbacks. As Chandler from “Friends” might’ve said, could this BE any better?

Before we get to expectations, let me address those who think he should stay on the sideline.

“He’s going to get hurt,” critics say.

God forbid an injury, but at the end of the day, it’s football and his job is to play. Maye is a 22-year-old grown man going to work.

I know our offensive line is, frankly, as weak as they come, but should they start benching David Pastrnak, too? Hockey is a physical game, afterall, and he’s only 28.

“He’s going to struggle and throw interceptions,” critics say.

OK? Interceptions are a part of the sport. Remember when rookie Peyton Manning threw 28 of them? It’s a marathon – not a sprint.

“We’re not going to beat Houston anyway,” critics say.

Sure, the Texans are 4-1, atop the AFC South, and arrive in Foxborough as some of the best pass-rushers in the league.

But here’s the secret: It’s not about winning on Sunday.

It’s about looking like a group of teammates, as opposed to a group of football players.

The Patriots are 1-4 and at the bottom of the AFC East. More importantly, in my opinion, they’ve shown no life and no heart.

I’m not asking Brady, Edelman, Gronk, and McCourty to run through that tunnel. I just want to see the crowd brought back to life, a few old-school drives put together, and some chemistry on the sideline.

Now, expectations.

Maye was a fantastic player for the Tar Heels. With fast legs and a strong arm, his college highlight-reel is a joy to watch.

That said, he’s still a rookie quarterback in his first start. There will be some missed targets and a few poor reads.

Remember your first day of work?

My prediction is, maybe, a 24-16 loss for New England with Maye throwing for 191 yards and a touchdown. I think they use their Maye momentum to stay in the game for a while.

But if we pick up some first downs, get the crowd into it, and put up a fight until the double zeros show, I’ll be a happy fan again.

To head coach Jerod Mayo and fellow decision-makers, we may not all agree with the switch, but we’re all rooting for it.

Is it Sunday yet?

  • Joey Barrett

    Joey Barrett is the Daily Item’s Sports Editor. He reports on local high schools, colleges, and professional teams. Prior to his current position, he worked for UMass Athletics, the Cape Cod Baseball League, and Gannett Media, among others. Barrett was also Sports Editor at Endicott College and treasurer of Endicott’s Society of Professional Journalists branch.

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