Patriots’ Super Bowl 60 opening night: From Maye’s shoulder to head butts
SAN JOSE — The New England Patriots touched down in San Jose on Sunday afternoon, and about 24 hours later, they descended on the San Jose Convention Center to preview the Super Bowl.
It’s a dream come true for every player and coach in the game, but the media portion of Opening Night probably wasn’t what the Pats’ players envisioned when they were kids.
Still, New England’s players served up some interesting anecdotes on 49ers players, different NFL fan bases, head-butting coaches and much more as they took the first official step in the build-up for Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium.
Here’s a brief sampling of the Patriots’ quips.
Maye shoulder update
Don’t bank on Drake Maye missing Sunday’s game.
After being listed as questionable during the Patriots’ bye week with a shoulder injury, Maye addressed his status for the Super Bowl.
“I feel good. I’ll be just fine,” he said. “I threw a good bit. I threw as much as I would at a normal practice. I felt great and looking forward to getting back out there Wednesday and Thursday for practice and Friday to get ready for a normal week of prep.”
Patriots’ tight end commends Kittle
Even while sidelined, George Kittle’s influence on the sport was felt at Super Bowl media day. Patriots tight end Hunter Henry praised the 49ers’ star while also wishing him a speedy recovery from his torn Achilles.
“He’s a guy we all kind of look to,” Henry said. “He has played at a high level for so long at the top of this league. I hate to see him go down with an injury. I know the work he puts in and everything that he does, and everything that it entails. He’s a tremendous player and also a tremendous person. I have so much respect for him as a player and as a person.
“I wish him a quick recovery and hopefully we can see him back on the field really soon.”
Williams talks Vrabel head-butts
Milton Williams is one of the few NFL players – maybe the only one? — to be seen on camera head-butting his head coach Mike Vrabel.
It wasn’t intentional, but Williams, wearing full pads and a helmet, hit Vrabel in the head and drew blood while celebrating with a boisterous hug after the Patriots’ playoff win over the Chargers.
So what will he do if the Patriots win on Sunday? It’s likely he and Vrabel would be on a collision course once again.
Or whoever else gets in the way.
“I always see him on the sideline,” Williams said. “He knows how to push our buttons and get us going. So he was the first one there, and that was to celebrate with him. When we won last week, I didn’t see Vrabel. The first person I saw was Eliot (Wolf). So I tried to do the same thing I did with Vrabes, try to hype him up, and I had knocked him over in the snow.
“If somebody got their own camera, they gonna go find it and see it on the sideline. But it’s just a lot of pure emotion, man, just going out there and having fun with them.”
Wolf, by the way, is the Patriots’ executive vice president of player personnel.
Vrabel gets Club America jersey, discusses football/futbol
Speaking of Vrabel, he received a jersey from a representative from Mexican soccer club Club America. He then proceeded to pontificate on what name the sport should use.
With the World Cup coming to Santa Clara and many other U.S. cities this summer, including the Patriots’ home stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, soccer – or football – was on the mind in San Jose.
“Is it not Mexican football?” Vrabel said. “OK, good. Because everybody else calls it futbol.”
The NFL has played games in Mexico City in recent years at Club America’s stadium. Vrabel alluded to American football’s growing popularity in Mexico in another portion of his response.
“We appreciate your support,” Vrabel said. “Thank you for helping us grow the game.”
Williams on Philly, New England fan bases
Williams won a championship last year with Philadelphia, so he knows all about passionate fan bases.
But his answer regarding the difference between Philly and New England fans may align with what some 49ers fans experienced when traveling to Philadelphia for road games in past years, including the NFC championship in 2024.
“New England is probably more passionate,” Williams said. “Philly fans, like, they don’t care about that. They’re gonna do whatever. It’s even, but I feel like the Patriots fans, they don’t want to get in trouble. Philly fans, they don’t care about that. They don’t care if they go to jail. They’ll do whatever.”
Maye may try quesadilla
Drake Maye likes Mexican food, evidently. He’s in a good spot to get some this week, and he plans to check it out if he can find the time.
“Queso and quesadilla are my favorite Mexican dishes,” Maye said. I can’t go without Mexican food. I know they have some good Mexican out here, so I may try some.”