Jerod Mayo addresses perceived ‘shots’ at Bill Belichick
Change is never easy. The New England Patriots moving on from Bill Belichick after 24 years, no matter the circumstances around the move, was always going to be difficult to navigate.
Early on, one issue that has emerged is the new staff talking about the way things were done under Belichick. Going back to Jerod Mayo’s introductory press conference last month, he and others have made comments that, intentionally or not, have been received as ‘shots’ at Belichick and his operation that led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles.
READ MORE:
—How will Eliot Wolf ‘weaponize’ the Patriots’ offense?
—Which pending free agent the Patriots view as a ‘cornerstone’ player
—Full 2024 NFL Combine preview
One such example came as recently as Tuesday, when new de facto general manager Eliot Wolf held his first press conference. Wolf told reporters that moving forward, there will be “less of a hard-ass vibe” around the Patriots, seemingly referring to Belichick’s militaristic leadership style.
On Wednesday morning, Mayo spoke with the media at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. During that time, he addressed the perceived criticisms of Belichick coming from the current staff.
“Look, it’s going to be different,” Mayo told reporters. “At the same time, I would say Bill did a great job for a long period of time. I don’t want you guys to take this as – because we’re changing – shots at the previous regime. In saying that, we will do it differently. It’ll feel different, but at the end of the day, we would like to replicate the success that the prior regime had. I learned a lot from Bill and also his staff. But now we’ll see what this chapter looks like in the franchise.”
“It’s been done a certain way at a high level for what, 20-plus years?” Mayo added. “But I would also say there’s more than one way to skin a cat. It worked for coach [Belichick]. We’ll see what works for Eliot and myself.”
On one hand, it makes sense for the Patriots to operate at least somewhat differently post-Belichick. Over the years former Belichick assistants went elsewhere and tried to implement his program with very little success. It’s Belichick himself that makes that concept work, and trying to duplicate it without him has proven to be a fools errand.
That being said, it’s not hard to understand why some of what’s been said by those in the organization since Belichick’s departure are viewed as slights towards the former coach. Given the initial blowback, it’ll be interesting to see if and how the messaging changes moving forwards.
Beyond the comments on Belichick, Mayo echoed a number of points made by Wolf on Tuesday. Here’s a look at the highlights from that press conference…
How will Eliot Wolf 'weaponize the offense' in New England?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 28: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks to pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I think it’s a really good year for quarterbacks,” Wolf said when asked about this class. “Like any position, we’re going to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and determine who fits for us.”
Wolf added that an important part of making that determination will be getting to know the quarterbacks as players. The Patriots are expected to meet with all three top quarterbacks in the draft – USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels – and Wolf added they could have additional pre-draft meetings as well.
Despite having not met any of the top quarterbacks in person though, Wolf said part of the reason he likes this class is what he sees in their mental makeup. “One thing about the quarterbacks in this draft specifically that I’m excited about – they all look like they’re really tough guys,” Wolf explained.
Does this all point to the Patriots taking a quarterback in the first round to being the “weaponization” of the Patriots’ offense? Wolf highlighted the value of taking a quarterback with the team’s first pick league-wide.
“When you look throughout the league, most of the quarterbacks are first-rounders,” Wolf noted. “I think the league-wide understanding of how important that position is and how important it is to have somebody there that can help you win games and get over the hump has changed league-wide.”
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 23: Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 23, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Wolf didn’t just talk about the quarterbacks at the top of the draft though. He was also asked about Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is also projected to be a top five pick.
“He’s a good player. There’s obviously a lot of strengths to his game” Wolf replied. “He can translate to any offense in the NFL.”
The one position of need Wolf wasn’t asked about – as it relates to the draft – was offensive tackle. However he did address the position internally, calling pending free agent Michael Onwenu a “cornerstone” and adding that “it’s no secret we want to keep him.”
Talking about “weaponizing” the offense is one thing, but doing it is another. Patriots fans won’t have to wait long to start seeing Wolf’s vision take shape. The Combine usually marks the start of regular free agency rumors, leading up to the start of the legal tampering period on March 11. From there, it’s about another month and a half until the NFL Draft.
