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Cam Newton labels Drake Maye ‘fraud of the week’ after meltdown in Jacksonville
"I just report what I see," Newton said. "You're talking about a player who has been disappointing so far this year."
The man who called Drake Maye and the Patriots “fool’s gold” is at it again.
During a recent appearance on his podcast 4th-and-1, Cam Newton gave Maye his weekly “Daejon Love Fraud Award.”
Daejon Love is a 35-year-old-man who was arrested by the FBI on suspicion of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Love’s scheme, according to the Department of Justice, relied on “creation of fictitious personas and display of a lavish lifestyle.” Love often falsely portrayed himself as an NFL player on social media.
Maye and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert shared the award this week. Newton picked Maye and his co-host “Peggy” picked Herbert.
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Maye went 14-for-25 for 199 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns in a 35-6 loss to Jacksonville. He has one touchdown against six interceptions through three games this season.
“I just report what I see,” Newton said. “You’re talking about a player who has been disappointing so far this year. Justin Herbert and Drake Maye are looking at each other eyeball to eyeball because what we expected from Drake Maye coming off of a Super Bowl appearance, this ain’t that.”
“Only throwing for one touchdown? This ain’t that. Leading the league in interceptions? This ain’t that. Making senseless interceptions, and decisions, and inaccurate passes? This ain’t that.”
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Newton said the Patriots had “fool’s gold” written all over them last November during a lengthy win streak that helped them win the AFC East. Newton doubled down on those comments later that month, and the Patriots kept winning consistently throughout the regular season.
New England beat the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos in the playoffs before being crushed by Seattle in the Super Bowl.
So far, through three games this season (including a rematch with Seattle), Maye hasn’t looked like the player who finished second in the MVP voting last season.
“When I say certain things and I back it with statistics and film – bro I’m not hating,” Newton said. “I’m just critiquing the game from within the confines of my football prowess to say I know Drake Maye way better than that.”
“Did he have a touchdown called back because of a penalty? Yes, and so what? There’s a lot of things that a lot of teams can say that’s a bad beat. But, you can’t dwell there.”
Maye’s struggles aren’t entirely his fault, Newton said, but the Patriots quarterback has failed to live up to expectations thus far.
“He hasn’t had the help from the receivers,” Newton said. “Romeo Doubs – what was that? When you see A.J. Brown, he’s not going to have him for at least [four weeks] because he’s on injured reserve. So, there’s a lot to unpack but as far as fraudulent activity, it has to go to Drake Maye, and it hurts me to say that.”
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The Patriots benefitted from an easy schedule last year, but the tougher competition this year is not an excuse for how Maye is playing, Newton said.
“You can say all that you want to say but everything is washed away when you pull up the film,” Newton said. “When you see the three turnovers that Drake Maye had alone [Sunday], the interception that he threw in the end zone to Travis Hunter – that was disgusting.”
“Even in the Week 1 game, the inaccurate pass led to the game being over. Those are disgusting plays and there’s not another way to explain it. When we’re giving these quarterbacks high praise, we also have to be able to critique them.”
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