Jerod Mayo Complimentary of Bill Belichick, Prior Patriots Regime

Jerod Mayo stressed since being named New England Patriots head coach that things would be done differently in Foxboro. Bill Belichick had been the Patriots head coach for 24 years. Belichick also had the final say on football decisions. With New England and Belichick “parting ways” after the season, change was inevitable regardless of who replaced him.

“I’m not trying to be Bill (Belichick),” Mayo explained at that first press conference. “Bill is his own man.”

Several Patriots assistants who have failed as head coaches struggled, in part, because they tried to be like Bill Belichick. Jerod Mayo is trying to be himself, which is wise. It has served him well to this point.

However, a narrative has developed of late. It hasn’t just seemed like the New England Patriots are trying to do things differently. The Patriots seem to want to distance themselves as far as possible from Bill Belichick and all he did for the franchise for a quarter century.

Burying Bill Belichick

The Apple TV docuseries “The Dynasty” is partially to blame for Bill Belichick supporters feeling defensive these days. After four episodes there has been a lot more negative than positive said about Belichick by Patriots owner Robert Kraft. And this is after three Super Bowl victories and a 16-0 regular season. Fair or not, those comments are hovering in the psyche of Patriots fans and media alike at the moment.

When Eliot Wolf met with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine yesterday, he was asked about the “Packer Way” of doing business. He answered in football terms to start.

“Draft and develop. Extend your core performers from within,” Wolf explained. He then added, “And again, it’s about honesty, respect, and treating people the right way.”

Nobody might have made a big deal about Eliot Wolf’s comments had it not been for another remark later on. Wolf said the Patriots want to establish a less “hard-ass vibe” moving forward. This felt like a jab at the Belichick regime. It then made his “honesty, respect, and treating people the right way” comment come across as a dig at Bill Belichick as well.

Intentionally or not, Wolf’s comments came across as making a comparison to paint the Patriots’ old way of doing business in a negative light. Many on social media, including former Patriots player Matt Chatham, took notice.

The #1 lesson in media interviews Belichick used to hammer with us players was to never fall into the trap of making comparisons between other coaches you’ve had, players on your team or others, other places you’ve been, etc. Nobody wins when ya take the 🧀

— Matt Chatham (@chatham58) February 27, 2024

It is understandable to do things differently with new people running the show. It is also fair to point out that if the old way of doing things had continued to work in New England, Belichick would likely not have lost his job. But between the docuseries comments and the remarks by Wolf, it was beginning to feel downright disrespectful.

Jerod Mayo Clears the Air

This reaction got back to Jerod Mayo, who spoke to reporters from the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday morning.

“Bill (Belichick) did a great job for a long period of time,” Mayo acknowledged. “I don’t want you guys to take this, just because we’re changing, as shots toward the previous regime.

“In saying that, we will do it differently, and it’ll feel different,” the head coach went on. “And at the end of the day, we would like to replicate the success that the prior regime had.”

With those simple comments, Jerod Mayo cleared the air. Things will be done differently, but it is with the hopes of having the same results in terms of team success. It is great that the new regime is looking to spread its wings and fly. They just don’t need to poop on the old regime as they soar.