During a segment on ESPN’s First Take late last week, Newton pontificated that New England’s 9–2 start to the 2025 season was “fool’s gold,” given their schedule filled with “sorry scrubs,” and that Josh McDaniels should be credited for Maye’s success.

Drake Maye admitted he didn’t know what show Cam Newton was on when he was asked about the former MVP calling the Patriots’ success “fool’s gold.” Stephen A. Smith doesn’t believe that to be the case.

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith went in on New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after the second-year playmaker responded to Cam Newton's remarks about the AFC East team. In the aftermath of the Pats' Week 11 win over the New York Jets,

Newton publicly questioned the legitimacy of the New England Patriots’ 9-2 start on ESPN’s “First Take,” saying the surge “has fool’s gold written all over them” and warning that a weak regular-season slate could leave the team unprepared for playoff competition.

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was back in the swing of things on Monday morning after his team was idle on Sunday (having already achieved a Week 11 win against the Jets on Thursday).