For the most of the last 25 years, the Patriots have been the primary subject of rumors, speculation, and, on occasion, allegations. It became synonymous with New England during the Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era, almost becoming a joke for fans who expected some form of controversy to erupt practically every season. Now that both icons had passed, there was hope that the Patriots’ troubles would be over, only for Robert Kraft’s employment of Jerod Mayo to reignite them for another season. So it appeared that the Mike Vrabel era would be the end of that, until this past week.

Despite the source’s shaky reputation among Patriots supporters, new information from the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin has placed quarterback Drake Maye in a negative light following the Joe Milton III trade last week. Vrabel and Co. have plenty of reasons to sell the second-year player, especially because Maye appears to be their franchise starter. However, Volin suggests that there was more to the relocation behind the scenes, which sadly included Maye and his family.

It was even more likely that he would be sold before optional workouts began on Monday, as Vrabel apparently sought to assure. It makes sense given that he was not expected to be part of the team’s long-term ambitions, and Milton believed he should be a starter in the league. However, there are now allegations that Maye may have had an effect on the decision. Maye has been accused of being dissatisfied with the team’s decision to choose his former teammate in the sixth round last year, and his family has also been critical of the move.

Although there is a chance that this is a realistic picture of how Maye and his family felt when the Patriots suddenly double-dipped at the position, no proof has been shown to support its veracity other than what appears to be speculation rather than reality. There didn’t appear to be any real competition between Maye and Milton, which led one to conclude that Maye should have been concerned about his job as starter. Volin, on the other hand, feels this is precisely what happened.

Based on what fans could observe, Maye did not appear to be concerned about what the Patriots might do at quarterback. Perhaps this was more significant while Mayo was still there, but Vrabel made it obvious from the start that Maye was the man, and that would not change anytime soon. Regardless of its validity, it cannot be a distraction this offseason, especially with the draft just around the horizon. The Patriots do not need to give the competitors or the media another opportunity to create unnecessary drama, since the aim is that everything is in the past and will remain so.