STWF Sports | Nov. 23, 2025 – Drake Maye has the New England Patriots atop the AFC. He has them winning tight games on the road. He even has them looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender at 10–2. What he does not have—at least not yet—is Cam Newton’s approval.
The Patriots survived a late push from the Cincinnati Bengals to escape Paycor Stadium with a 26–20 victory on Sunday, extending one of the most surprising starts of the 2025 NFL season. Mike Vrabel’s team is now tied for the best record in football, and their rookie quarterback continues to play well beyond his years.
But even with another win secured, the off-field storyline involving Maye and the former NFL MVP loomed large.
Newton Calls Patriots “Fool’s Gold”—Maye Fires Back
The tension began earlier in the week when Newton appeared on ESPN’s First Take and questioned whether New England’s record reflected reality. He labeled the Patriots “fool’s gold,” suggesting their success wasn’t sustainable.
Maye didn’t ignore it.
“I think they get paid to make remarks and make certain comments,” he said, adding that he didn’t even know which show Newton appears on. That answer—half dismissive, half pointed—set the NFL world buzzing.
Newton, a household name in New England after guiding the Patriots in 2020, clearly struck a nerve. And fans were eager to see whether Maye had truly put the criticism behind him.
As it turns out, the rookie hadn’t forgotten.
Maye Declines the ‘Superman’ Celebration
During pregame warmups in Cincinnati, wide receiver Stefon Diggs walked up to Maye for their usual handshake. But the veteran added a twist—mimicking Newton’s famed “Superman” celebration, opening his jersey as if revealing the ‘S’ underneath.
Diggs held the pose and looked to Maye, nudging him to complete the gesture.
Maye shook his head, smiled, and declined.
The moment lasted only a second, but cameras caught everything—and the internet took it from there. Within minutes, the clip had gone viral.
“Drake said f*** Cam,” one fan wrote.
“The way he declined that celly was so tuff,” another posted.
“Drake is no longer a Cam fan,” added a third.
Even after a week of headlines, the rookie QB’s simple refusal became the latest proof that the friction is alive and well.
Stephen A. Smith Enters the Chat
Maye’s original comments about Newton prompted strong reactions from ESPN’s First Take crew. Stephen A. Smith fired the first public shot.
“(Drake Maye) is a liar,” Smith said on-air. “Don’t tell me you’re an athlete and you don’t know Cam Newton is on this show.”
Smith’s remarks drew immediate backlash, including from Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, who criticized the host for overreacting. By Friday, Smith softened his tone.
“I was being facetious,” he clarified. “It wasn’t that big of a deal. I just didn’t believe he didn’t know where Cam works. That’s all.”
Still, the conversation added fuel to an already fast-burning fire heading into Sunday.
Maye Delivers Again on the Field
While drama surrounded the quarterback all week, Maye’s play remained steady. He guided the Patriots on multiple scoring drives, avoided catastrophic mistakes, and leaned on Vrabel’s top-ranked defense to close out the Bengals late.
The win moved New England to 10–2—remarkable for a team many analysts predicted would finish near the bottom of the AFC East.
But with another viral moment now circulating, Maye’s war of words with Newton may stretch into Week 13 and beyond.
More Attention Ahead
By refusing to mimic Newton’s trademark celebration, Maye made it clear—intentionally or not—that their exchange wasn’t forgotten. And in today’s NFL, where everything becomes content, one small gesture may dominate the airwaves again this week.
On the field, Maye keeps stacking wins. Off it, he may have just reignited the NFL’s most unlikely quarterback feud.
