FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Melissa Lucier is a longtime enterprise proprietor whose present and home-design store in Westwood, Massachusetts, opened greater than a decade earlier than the New England Patriots’ 23-year-old quarterback Drake Maye was born.
The shop just lately underwent a football-themed makeover.
“Aren’t all of us past excited that the Pats are again?” Lucier mentioned, explaining how the entrance window of the 1,500-square-foot area is now painted pink, white and blue and features a rendering of the again of Maye, in his blue Patriots jersey and silver helmet, along with his proper index finger raised in celebration.
The “A-Maye-Zing” window got here to life due to native artist Joan Aylward, and showcases how Maye’s sudden rise to stardom — which has additionally catapulted his spouse Ann Michael Maye — has galvanized the area.
“We’d like all of the feel-good tales. The Mayes are bringing us all happiness, and I simply need to share in that,” Lucier mentioned.
Whereas Maye’s MVP-caliber season has led the Patriots to the AFC Championship Sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, CBS), it is his aw-shucks character that has spawned a spirited following amongst followers. There is a “Drake Maye Lover” Instagram account that has greater than 300,000 followers, together with a nickname — Drake “Drake Maye” Maye — that confused teammates at first however is beginning to catch on. As well as, Maye’s No. 10 jersey is second in gross sales this season, behind the Buffalo Payments QB Josh Allen.
Although Lucier mentioned jokingly, “Ann Michael is perhaps even just a little extra in style!”
Ann Michael went viral when she baked one thing completely different day-after-day of December, main as much as Christmas — often known as “Bakemas” — and posted on TikTok. She typically shared her baked items with Maye’s Patriots teammates, and it was the discuss of the locker room.
However she had social media buzzing once more final Sunday, when she wore the more and more in style “I [heart emoji] Drake Maye” shirt to the win over the Houston Texans. It began as a preferred fan T-shirt, however is now formally licensed via the NFL Gamers Affiliation and offered within the workforce Professional Store — one other reminder of how followers have embraced him.
Ann Michael Maye dressed for the event with the “I ❤️ Drake Maye” hoodie
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“All people loves Drake,” Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte mentioned. “The shirt is cool, and everyone does their very own little factor, however it’s an effective way to assist him.”
Teammates say amid the success and fanfare, Maye has remained the identical humble man he was throughout his rookie 12 months. Although Maye notices the love.
“I recognize how the followers have embraced me and took me into New England as a Southern child. I’ve simply loved it,” mentioned Maye, who was born and raised in North Carolina. “I attempt to give them one thing to cheer about extra.”
Drake ‘Drake Maye’ Maye
Boutte has grow to be one in every of Maye’s go-to targets, as evidenced by his spectacular one-handed 32-yard landing catch final Sunday. However they hadn’t related on one element that puzzled Boutte earlier within the season.
Within the Patriots’ win over the New York Giants on Dec. 1, Boutte was humorously heard on the sideline asking teammates, “Does anybody know what they imply once they’re like ‘Drake … Drake Maye … Maye?’ What the heck does that imply?”
Seems, he’s removed from alone.
“I nonetheless have not figured it out,” mentioned Patriots beginning proper sort out Morgan Moses, who, at 34, is the longest-tenured participant on the roster. “Perhaps as a result of I am outdated, although.”
The nickname picked up momentum on social media, particularly from the “Drake Maye Lover” Instagram account that presently has 345,000 followers, and the “Drake Maye Lover” account on “X” with about 59,000 followers. They’re run by the identical particular person — a 22-year-old lifetime Patriots fan who mentioned in a direct message they like to maintain their id confidential.
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“In Could 2024, I began it as a joke that my pals and I discovered humorous. It was simply alleged to be an inside joke at first,” the creator wrote.
“As soon as the Patriots and Drake began off enjoying nicely this 12 months, I actually began to see some traction. However there’s been a reasonably loyal following because the starting.”
The next was evident by the fourth video posted, which in contrast Maye to Brady throughout Maye’s rookie season when the Patriots finally completed with a 4-13 report. It was seen greater than 1 million occasions.
“I assumed there is perhaps one thing right here, however I by no means anticipated it to get as massive because it’s gotten,” the creator wrote.
In the meantime, the Drake “Drake Maye” Maye nickname originated amongst these participating within the posts.
“It was simply one thing folks in my feedback and I might say as a joke. We took inspiration from another athletes who had comparable nicknames previously,” the creator wrote.
Maye, in a December interview with NBC, mentioned teammates have began referring to him that means.
“It is humorous. It will get you amusing,” Maye mentioned. “No person actually is aware of what it means.”
That hasn’t stopped gamers and coaches from placing their very own spin on it.
“I attempt to say it at the least as soon as a day, and I battle,” Patriots quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant mentioned jokingly. “Is it ‘Drake Maye … Drake Maye’? Is it ‘Drake Drake … Maye Maye’? My spouse makes jokes about it on a regular basis. Josh [McDaniels] requested me the place it comes from, and I mentioned it is as a result of he is so easy. He has the most straightforward nickname in America; his nickname is his identify.
“That matches his character. He is a aggressive man, fiery man. However after I noticed that, I am like, ‘That is becoming.”
‘Bakemas’ takes off
On Dec. 1, Ann Michael Maye, 22, posted the primary video from the household kitchen on TikTok.
“Joyful recreation day!” she mentioned, sporting a Christmas-themed apron. “I will do a factor in December referred to as ‘Bakemas’ — baking one thing new each single day of December till Christmas. Right now is Day 1.”
The primary recipe was Patriots-themed chocolate chip cookies, with pink and blue M&M’s, and he or she concluded the video saying, “Go Pats! Joyful Bakemas.”
It was an immediate hit.
Greater than 2,000 feedback adopted, some humorous, akin to: “Drake has an enormous recreation tonight. Do not give him too many cookies; it might upset his abdomen.” Others referred to her because the “queen of the north.” The feedback added to the recognition of “Bakemas.”
By January, NBC10 Boston turned it right into a 10-minute present referred to as “Past Bakemas with Ann Michael Maye.”
The primary episode, very similar to her first TikTok, featured Patriots-themed chocolate chip cookies with pink and blue M&M’s. Ann Michael was joined by Barstool Sports activities founder Dave Portnoy, who, at one level, requested how she has adjusted to elevated fame.
“I am undoubtedly not used to it. It form of blew up actually quick,” she mentioned. “I am used to Drake having it, you realize? In every single place we go, individuals are asking him for photos and issues, and I am the one taking the photograph. Now that folks need me, it is so bizarre. It is loopy. Nevertheless it’s actually cool. Everybody has been like tremendous good, and it is form of enjoyable to expertise all of it.”
Lengthy earlier than that, nonetheless, she had received over the Patriots’ offensive linemen.
“The O-line is like the primary recipient of my baked items,” she mentioned on the second episode, this time alongside former Patriots heart David Andrews as they baked apple cinnamon oat bars. “Sometimes, they will write me a thank-you word: ‘Simply maintain feeding us. We have to defend your husband, so we have to carry on the additional weight. In the event you want a bodyguard, we’ll be your bodyguard.'”
In December, Drake mentioned his favourite baked good was her peppermint chocolate chip cookies.
Grant, the quarterbacks coach, realized how rapidly “Bakemas” had unfold in the course of the workforce’s highway journey to face the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 21. Grant’s uncle is a trainer in Baltimore, and one in every of his college students was an enormous fan.
“So, he introduced me a bunch of baked items [from the student] to deliver again for Ann Michael,” Grant mentioned. “It is reaching completely different components of the nation.”
Grant, who charges salted chocolate chip cookies as his best choice, made it sound just like the quarterback room is a bakery at occasions.
“Drake brings them in after which drops them off into the O-line room after we’re performed. Then, [assistant coach] Doug Marrone comes again with an empty [container],” he mentioned, smiling.
Some linemen, akin to Moses, ribbed rookie left sort out Will Campbell for getting preferential therapy.
In a single viral social media clip, Campbell was visiting the Mayes on the ultimate day of “Bakemas” when Ann Michael was making cinnamon rolls. Drake referred to Ann Michael because the “queen of Bakemas” as Campbell sat close by to provide it a “10 out of 10” ranking.
“If one thing ever makes its means in right here, a favourite half is attending to strive it, for positive,” mentioned veteran tight finish Austin Hooper, who re-signed with the workforce as a free agent within the offseason partly as a result of he wished to play with Maye. “It is great things. She is aware of what she’s doing in there.”
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Regardless of success, he is nonetheless the ‘identical man’
After the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs Jan. 11, Maye spoke in regards to the assist he acquired from his household that evening.
His dad and mom, Mark and Aimee, attend most video games, and for simply the third time all season, all three of his brothers (Luke, Beau and Cole) had been there.
“And you may’t neglect Ann Michael,” Maye mentioned with a smile.
One in all Maye’s first declarations because the Patriots’ No. 3 decide in 2024 was: “That is my squad. In the event you’re getting me, you are getting them.”
Teammates say that humble, family-first method has by no means wavered.
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“Even from final 12 months, whether or not it is 4 wins or 1769271269 14 wins within the common season, he is remained the identical particular person,” Hooper mentioned. “As soon as the exterior issues got here and everybody was like, ‘Drake Maye, Drake Maye!’, it isn’t like he modified his complete course of. Drake hasn’t modified who he’s since he bought right here.”
Tight finish Hunter Henry, 31, who’s one in every of Maye’s closest pals, cites that as a main cause Maye has earned widespread respect within the locker room.
Moses, the veteran offensive sort out, famous the relationships Maye has cultivated with gamers and employees members. He calls him a “natural-born chief.”
“He is humble, man. I’ve had an opportunity to fulfill his dad and mom, and clearly, the apple does not fall removed from the tree,” Moses mentioned. “To see every thing flourish for him has been superb to observe.”
Within the common season, Maye led the NFL in completion share (72%), passer ranking (113.5) and yards per try (8.93), whereas his 450 dashing yards ranked fourth amongst NFL quarterbacks. His 37-yard run within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs set the franchise postseason report for a quarterback.
In serving to the Patriots to 16 victories, Maye is tied with Russell Wilson (2013), Kurt Warner (1999) and Dan Marino (1984) for essentially the most wins by a first- or second-year quarterback in NFL historical past. Wilson, Warner and Marino every reached a Tremendous Bowl, with Wilson and Warner successful a championship.
And although Maye is only one win away from equaling that spectacular feat, he hasn’t let the success — or sudden superstar — get in the way in which of his team-first method.
“He is the identical man I met again in late January, early February. The identical issues that matter to him then, matter to him now,” Grant mentioned. “He broke the report for completion share for the franchise, I congratulated him, and he did not care about that. He mentioned, ‘Congratulate me after we win the Tremendous Bowl.’ So, he does not care in regards to the particular person accolades, does not care in regards to the MVP hype.”
