Patriots in Disarray: Is Jerod Mayo’s Confidence Seen as Arrogance? Andrew Callahan Weighs In
On this morning’s Toucher & Hardy, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald shared his perspective on the challenges facing Jerod Mayo within the Patriots organization. Callahan suggested that Mayo carries an air of arrogance, which may stem from his confidence as a leader and his association with the team’s six Super Bowl championships. However, this attitude seems to have rubbed some people the wrong way.
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Callahan mentioned that candidates for the offensive coordinator position didn’t view the Patriots as particularly organized or supportive during the hiring process. Some felt uncertain about the level of backing they’d receive, especially considering Mayo’s relatively short coaching tenure of five years. While Mayo’s confidence is clear, Callahan argued that his inability to recognize or address his own weaknesses may be a significant misstep in building buy-in from others within the league.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Rob “Hardy” Poole:
Mayo wasn’t allowed to pick his staff, and now he’s being scrutinized to a much greater extent than a lot of coaches are—certainly more than Bill ever was. So, how much say did Jerod have at the beginning? How much say does he have now? Because it seems like there’s a lot of people watching over him.
Andrew Callahan:
I do think the level to which ownership is involved now is more than it has been for most of the last 25 years. It may even match what Belichick has been enduring over the past couple of years. I think, though, the answer is simpler than just looking at the politics in the office or how much sway they’re applying—whether it’s pressure or outright dictating decisions. I don’t know that. I can’t report on that.
What I can tell you, though, is that I think Mayo is sometimes suffering from a bit of arrogance in the way he carries himself and the expectations he brings into the job. There’s this sense of, “I can hire who I want. People will come work here. I represent the six-time Super Bowl champions.” But people in the league that I’ve talked to, including those close to the interview process for the offensive coordinator job, have said, “I didn’t get a great vibe there.” They didn’t feel particularly supported or confident in what their role would look like.
And then there’s the fact that Jerod has only been coaching for five years. Sure, it’s great that he was a good player and has been a part of and driven a lot of success there. But that doesn’t automatically mean it’ll translate into success at the next level. I think Jerod sees himself as an incredibly confident, talented, natural leader—and assumes people will just follow. But they’re not buying in, and I think that’s a mistake on his part: overlooking his own weaknesses or failing to see them the way others do.
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Missed Opportunities on Offense
Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) huddles teammates against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Hardy noted that while the Patriots seemed to have worked on moving the ball during their bye week, execution fell short. A mishandled snap from Ben Brown led to a botched play, but rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed composure. Jon Wallach pointed out issues along the offensive line, especially Sidy Sow and Vederian Lowe.
Mike Reiss highlighted Maye’s poise, suggesting he could be a foundation for the future despite the line’s struggles.
