Patriots
“He processes information extremely well, much like Peyton. He has a humility and humility like Tom.”
Clyde Christensen worked with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and also served as a volunteer on the UNC staff. Jacob Kupferman/AP Photo
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Clyde Christensen coached Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
He was the Colts’ offensive coordinator at the end of Manning’s time in Indianapolis and the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks coach when Tom Brady won the Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.
Last year, Christiansen closely observed new Patriots quarterback Drake Maye while he was a volunteer offensive analyst at the University of North Carolina.
Christensen said Maye had a long way to go before he could be compared to Brady or Manning, but there were a few traits that reminded him of each of them.
“You hate to even talk about (Maye) in those sentences with those guys because of their longevity — the way they performed so well for so long — but I think he has a lot of the same traits that give you a chance to be great,” Christensen said according to Chris Mason of MassLive.
The Patriots selected Maye No. 3 overall in last month’s draft and are betting on him to be the next face of their franchise. Coach Jerod Mayo said earlier this week that he expects his legacy to be tied to Maye’s for a long time.
Christensen listed some of the things Maye will need to turn those expectations into reality.
“You need a little luck. You have to stay healthy,” Christensen said. “You need teammates. It takes a lot to go with it. But he processes information extremely well, much like Peyton. He has a humility and humility like Tom that the players play for him.
“He has that kind of humility that just attracts his teammates,” Christensen added. “He’s going to be a great teammate. There’s no one in our (North Carolina) locker room that you would find (with) a bad word about him. It just fits in. He’s one of the guys. Yet he is able to lead and bring people together and challenge them if he needs to – but he does it the right way.
According to Christensen, Maye has a “Brady-like ability” to rally his teammates.
“I think he has this awareness of what’s going on around, which is huge,” Christensen said. “It’s a huge thing to have. When do you jump on the offensive line? When do you just try to build them? When do you kick receivers in the butt? When do you hug them? He has a gift for that. Realizing when, where and how is huge.
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