The New England Patriots are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since legendary quarterback Tom Brady led the franchise there. Many fans have criticized the Pats’ schedule this season, but head coach Mike Vrabel knows that all that matters is beating the Seattle Seahawks on February 8th in San Francisco.
“It doesn’t matter,” Vrabel said of the criticism his team is facing. “We’re in the Super Bowl. Like, we can pump this thing up for 10 days. I mean, we’re all compensated very well for what we do, so I don’t think there’s any disrespect from this building, or my appreciation for our football team. It doesn’t bother me.”
However, Super Bowl LX may have just become a great deal more complicated for the Vrabel and the Pats, with one of the league’s most prominent insiders reporting that starting quarterback Drake Maye, an MVP candidate in a few years, has popped up on the injury report and was forced out of practice.
“Patriots QB Drake Maye did not practice today due to an illness and a right shoulder injury,” reported Ari Meirov on Friday.
#Patriots QB Drake Maye did not practice today due to an illness and a right shoulder injury.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 30, 2026
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“We’re gonna have another Super Bowl with a team sick aren’t we,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“I have a feeling that this Super Bowl will be an absolute banger or a complete blowout,” someone else added.
“He ducking the 1 good team he has to play all year,” another fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see how the injury impacts Maye’s availability and preparation for the Super Bowl.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.