Even though the defensive playcaller was joking, Minter knew the veteran safety was capable of that type of play.
And he delivered in a big way.
“It was almost a little bit joking, like ‘Okay, we’ve done this before,'” Minter said. “Very similar guys, they’re veteran players, they know how to play, they know defense, it’s just a matter of them understanding your terminology. They both have made a bunch of plays in their career.
“Just sort of had that flashback to the last time I was in a similar situation and thought watching a bunch of his tape, this guy can go get the ball,” Minter continued. “He’s got really elite ball sense, ball skills, middle of the field-type safety that’s got range.”
Minter later added: “I’m glad he proved it right.”
Maye was well aware of this story, too, heading into the week.
The veteran safety said Minter told him about it in early conversations after he joined the team.
And after he actually did haul in a big interception, the two were able to laugh about the way it became a reality.
“We were on the phone Wednesday, he was like, ‘Last time I was in this situation, we got a guy, had to fly him across the country, he ended up getting a pick 6.’ He was like, ‘No pressure, but I’m holding you to it,'” Maye said with a laugh. “I was like, ‘Alright, we’ll see.’ I was just fortunate to get that interception and actually laugh and be able to joke about it with coach.”
He later added: “[On the sideline] I was like, ‘Told you, here you go.’ It was good, we spoke it into existence.”