FOXBORO, Mass. — Before Jerod Mayo was even asked a question at his midweek news conference Wednesday, the one that typically kicks off with questions about the upcoming opponent, the New England Patriots coach addressed, in no uncertain terms, the elephant in the room.
He called it “the noise.” After three days of news, stories and talk about the way he blasted his team after a sixth straight loss, Mayo went with mostly conventional coachspeak. Channeling his predecessor, he suggested the Patriots are “on to the Jets” and said the energy has been good entering the first practice of the week.
LIVE: Jerod Mayo Press Conference 10/23: https://t.co/S4r5ppTEix
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 23, 2024
But it was also a recognition of all the drama that has swirled around this team over the last 10 days. In that span:
• After previously referring to it as a mutual agreement to part ways, Robert Kraft called his decision to get rid of Bill Belichick a firing.
• Mayo put everyone on notice by calling them “a soft football team across the board” only seven games into his coaching tenure.
• The team’s second-round pick (Ja’Lynn Polk) has played like a bust and posted cryptic messages on social media.
• The team’s biggest offensive free-agent addition (K.J. Osborn) indicated he was going to be a healthy scratch Sunday and only got three practice reps all week before being inserted into the lineup and catching the game’s final touchdown.
• Belichick reignited a mini-feud with the Patriots, taking a victory lap over their struggles while delivering a not-so-subtle shot at his successor.
Phew. Did we miss anything?
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Mayo’s first season was going to have bumps along the way. That happens to any first-time coach, let alone one handed the worst roster in the NFL. But it wasn’t supposed to go like this — undisciplined play, uncompetitive football and, well, all the drama. There would be lots of losses, sure, but also a better vibe around the place. That was the goal, anyway.
Instead, Mayo is left to play Whac-A-Mole with every new issue that pops up around the place, including several that have been self-inflicted.
Oh, and the Patriots chose during the offseason not to take their bye after playing in London, an off week that would feel awfully nice right about now. So they’re forced to get ready — while still jet-lagged — for perhaps the only team in the league that can match the drama they’ve been through. The New York Jets arrive Sunday with their season basically on the line.
“The message for (the players) is it’s all about the Jets, and we’re moving forward,” Mayo said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of noise out there, and I said, ‘We are what our record is, and we have to get better.’ That ultimately is my responsibility, and look, I take all the blame, and that’s fine. It’s moving on to the Jets.”
Still, it’s been dizzying to keep up with everything going on around the Patriots.
Let’s start with Belichick. He and Kraft came to an agreement after last season on their split, which would be termed mutual. They would try, it seemed, to end things amicably and without mudslinging in the media.
But that has changed. Whether by coincidence or because Kraft said last week that he wished he had put more checks and balances on Belichick, the former coach came out swinging this week.
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Belichick is one of the league’s great grudge holders (which, as we previously noted, is why he won’t be coaching the Jets next season), and he has seemingly set his sights on his former team. He questioned Mayo’s use of the term soft and noted that last year’s Patriots team could stop the run, unlike this one.
On the one hand, it’s understandable that Belichick has gotten fed up with Patriots decision-makers talking about changing the culture he created and watching his former boss talk about separation of powers. All of that makes it totally reasonable that Belichick would want to defend himself, especially as he seeks a new coaching job.
On the other hand, to give flowers to last season’s 4-13 Patriots team because they stopped the run is like praising the clean floors on a sinking ship. Belichick’s team might have stopped the run, impressive work if you ignore the other massive holes Belichick was unable to fix, leaving the Pats with the worst roster in the NFL, the main reason he no longer works for the team.
Now, if the Patriots don’t turn things around, Mayo will have to worry about more than his own self-inflicted drama and the kind that comes from a locker room that loses like this one does. Now, the greatest coach of all time, Mayo’s former boss and mentor no less, seems all too happy to lob grenades after every misstep.
“Look, like I said, my main focus is the guys inside of this building — not only the players but also the coaches and the rest of the staff,” Mayo said when asked about Belichick’s comments. “Look, as soon as we turn this thing around, then we’ll be OK. It comes down to wins and losses. That’s … what you’re ultimately judged by.”
Meanwhile, the rest of the drama isn’t over. Mayo’s “soft” comments will carry over as a storyline until the team proves him wrong. Polk’s play will be questioned until he turns things around. (Concerningly, the entire rookie draft class outside of Drake Maye has been bad.)
The trade deadline is looming and they’ve decided to be sellers, already discussing with teams potential trades involving Kendrick Bourne, Joshua Uche and Tyquan Thornton. Maybe Osborn is the next one they try to move after his comments.
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All of that means the drama continues to swirl with New England a touchdown underdog at home against a 2-5 rival. A loss Sunday would be seven straight. Who knows what it would bring? Players demanding out? Belichick revving up for another awkward victory lap?
It’s only Week 8 of a season that wasn’t going to lead to a playoff berth, and the Patriots already need a win in the worst way.
(Photo of Jerod Mayo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5867378/2024/10/24/patriots-bill-belichick-jerod-mayo-drama/
