Forget inspirational sports movies and bulletin board material. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is getting some seriously *wild* motivation this season, and it’s all thanks to chicken wings. Seriously. Ashton Grant, the Patriots QB coach, has a unique metaphor he’s using to light a fire under Maye, especially after what’s been a slower, tougher start to his 2026 campaign.
The Grind for Every Last Morsel
Grant knows Maye is his own toughest critic, a guy always chasing perfection. To feed that intense drive, the coach started pulling out the ultimate symbol of untapped potential: the chicken wing. “There’s always a little bit more meat on the bone,” Grant said. Think about it: how many times have you tossed a wing aside, knowing there’s still a tiny bit of deliciousness clinging on? It’s crazy, especially with how much wings cost these days! Grant isn’t just talking, though. He’s showing Maye pictures of *bare* bones, a stark, undeniable visual reminder that there’s always more work to do, more to extract. This isn’t just about throwing a perfect spiral. Grant emphasizes pushing for every last bit of perfection in details, techniques, fundamentals, communication, and overall operation. It’s a constant grind, a chase for the absolute best version of themselves, and Maye’s coach is pumped that his QB is all-in on that pursuit.
From MVP Contender to a Slower Start
That relentless, “leave no meat behind” drive is exactly what helped Maye have such an insane 2025. The dude made a Super Bowl appearance and was a runner-up for NFL MVP! So it’s been a punch to the gut for Patriots fans to see him hit a wall with a slower start to 2026. Right now, he’s only got one touchdown and a mere 386 passing yards. Worse, he’s tossed four interceptions already, which unfortunately puts him way down at 31st in the entire league for turnovers. His 25th rank in passing yards isn’t exactly where you want your star QB to be. This is a classic example of how getting the easy meat off the bone is one thing, but that extra time and effort? That’s what truly separates the good from the great, and the truly elite. Maye’s work ethic definitely fueled his early success in New England, and he’s gonna need every ounce of it now.
The Patriots are heading down to Florida this weekend, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then, in Week 4, they’re off to Buffalo, which, let’s be honest, is practically the chicken wing capital of the world. Maye has a huge opportunity in these upcoming games to show he’s polishing off every last bit of that metaphorical chicken wing. We’ve seen our own guys, like Sam Darnold, show up big for the Seahawks in Week 3, proving what putting in that extra work can do. You gotta wonder if Grant is already eyeing up Buffalo’s wing scene for some fresh, bare-bone inspiration. The stakes are absolutely high for Maye to turn this season around, and you know he’s gotta be hungry for that “more meat on the bone” mentality to truly click on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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