{
  "id": 11562541,
  "title": "Viral photo potentially backs Drake Maye's blood on football excuse",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/viral-photo-potentially-backs-drake-mayes-blood-on-football-excuse",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-03T00:22:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/viral-photo-potentially-backs-drake-002228510.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recently circulating photograph appears to show blood on the football that was fumbled by New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye during their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. In the early stages of the matchup, Maye attempted to throw a pass when the ball unexpectedly came loose from his grasp without any defensive interference. This became one of the most embarrassing giveaways of Maye's career, prompting questions about what led to such a mistake. After the game, Maye provided an explanation, stating that the blood on the ball originated from center Jared Wilson, who suffered a cut during the contest. While some fans initially accepted Maye's account, others remained doubtful following a game where Maye committed three turnovers. The latest photo, shared by NBC Sports Boston, appears to lend credence to Maye's explanation.",
  "summary": "A close-up image seemingly backs Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's claims that his Week 3 fumble was caused by blood on the football.",
  "key_points": [
    "Photo shows blood on football fumbled by Drake Maye",
    "Blood attributed to Jared Wilson's cut during game",
    "Photo supports Maye's explanation of blood origin"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The newly surfaced photo supporting Drake Maye's claim that blood on the football caused him to fumble may ease scrutiny on the quarterback but does not erase concerns about his turnover-prone play.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}