RG III Faces Criticism for Alleged ‘Propaganda’ Claims About Drake Maye

NFL fans have taken to social media to criticize former quarterback Robert Griffin III for what many are calling misleading analysis of Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s playoff performance.

Griffin sparked controversy when he praised Maye’s postseason run to Super Bowl LX, claiming the young quarterback had overcome unprecedented defensive challenges. “Drake Maye faced the toughest path to the Super Bowl in NFL Playoff History. No QB has ever beat 3 Top 5 defenses to get to the Super Bowl. Until Drake Maye,” Griffin wrote on social media, noting the Patriots’ victories over the fifth-ranked Chargers defense, top-ranked Texans defense, and second-ranked Broncos defense.

The post quickly drew backlash from football analysts and fans alike, who pointed to Maye’s modest statistical output during the Patriots’ playoff run. Through the postseason, Maye has thrown for 533 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while struggling with ball security, committing six fumbles with three lost.

His performance in the AFC Championship game against Denver was particularly underwhelming, as he completed less than half his passes (47.6%) for a mere 86 yards. These numbers stand in stark contrast to his regular season performance, where he put together what many considered an MVP-caliber campaign, albeit against what was widely regarded as the NFL’s easiest schedule.

“I really do like Drake Maye so I don’t mean to disparage him, but he was awful in every one of these games. To frame this tweet like they won because of their offense is crazy,” wrote one NFL draft analyst on social media.

Another fan called Griffin’s take “one of the worst ever,” noting that “The Patriots had the easiest path to the Super Bowl in NFL history – regular and post season combined. You’ll never see it again.”

Some observers went further, suggesting Griffin was deliberately posting controversial content to generate engagement on social media platforms. “Former professional athlete having to farm for engagement to earn a paycheck,” one user commented, while another claimed, “If Twitter canceled payouts for tweets with proven misinformation you’d see less of this. He’s tweeting stuff like this for money.”

Griffin, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and was the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, has transitioned to media work since his playing career ended. His commentary has frequently drawn attention for its contrarian nature, with this latest analysis continuing that pattern.

The controversy comes as New England prepares for their Super Bowl matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite their playoff success, the Patriots will enter the championship game in Santa Clara as 3.5-point underdogs against quarterback Sam Darnold and the NFC champions.

For Maye, the Super Bowl represents an opportunity to silence critics who have questioned his playoff performances. Despite leading New England to the championship in his rookie season, the narrative surrounding his postseason play has been mixed at best. A strong showing on football’s biggest stage could reshape perceptions about his ability to perform against elite competition.

The debate highlights the increasingly complex relationship between former players turned media personalities, social media platforms, and the financial incentives that can drive controversial content creation in sports journalism.