Did Jerod Mayo take subtle shot at Bill Belichick?
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo walks to the microphones for to hold a press conference at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots have shown very few signs of improvement this year after undergoing major offseason changes, and many people feel Bill Belichick is to blame for the current state of the roster. Does Jerod Mayo agree?
The Patriots fell to 1-5 with their 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday. During his appearance on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” Monday morning, Mayo was asked why New England’s roster was in such a bad place entering the offseason.
Mayo chuckled and did not take the bait.
“You tell me,” he said. “I’m not doing that. Not doing that one.”
Why was the roster in such bad shape entering this offseason? #NFL @WEEI pic.twitter.com/87QpBBAfTD
— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) October 14, 2024
The question was certainly a loaded one. Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal felt Mayo’s response could be interpreted as a swipe at Belichick, though Giardi noted that executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf should share some of the blame.
"You tell me. I'm not going there." _ Jerod Mayo when asked why the roster is in such bad shape (per @TheGregHillShow). You could read b/t the lines & deduce that's regarding Belichick's handling of the team in recent years. I'm sure it is. But Eliot Wolf shouldn't escape blame.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 14, 2024
Mayo was asked about the roster entering the offseason, not the season. Anything that happened — or did not happen — prior to the 2024 offseason would have been on Belichick, as he was the Patriots’ general manager in addition to head coach.
Belichick made a lot of mistakes and failed to have a contingency plan in place for the Patriots after Tom Brady left. Mayo was left with a poor collection of skill players and a terrible offensive line, but he knew that when he took the job. He knows blaming Belichick for anything that has happened this season would be a bad look, which is why he was careful answering the question.
Mayo worked under Belichick on the Patriots’ staff, but there have been some signs that the relationship between the two is not in the best place.
