How Drake Maye showed leadership in his comments after Patriots-Bills NBC Boston [Video]

The starting quarterback of an NFL team is, in many ways, the face of the franchise. This is the most important player for the team’s on-field and off-field success.

For these reasons, and several others, it’s incredibly important to have strong leadership skills at this position. What the starting QB says matters, much more so than the No. 1 wide receiver or best defensive end, etc.

Drake Maye’s postgame press conference after Sunday’s Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills was more evidence of his leadership for the New England Patriots.

Maye took accountability for the mistakes he made, including a third-quarter interception that ended a promising drive. He also defended the coaching staff — specifically head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt — amid criticism from the fans and media.

In the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Talk Podcast with Tom E. Curran, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer explained why he wasn’t surprised that Maye so strongly defended Mayo and Van Pelt.

“I think …