Jerod Mayo was blamed for a lot of the Patriots’ struggles, but a former NFL general manager highlighted a larger issue.
Mayo certainly deserves some blame for the on-field product New England put out heading into its bye week. The Patriots rank near the bottom in almost every statistical category, and his responses to his team’s failings haven’t inspired confidence among fans.
Former NFL GM and host of the “GM Shuffle” Michael Lombardi joined NESN’s Geroge Balekji and Travis Thomas on “Foxboro Rush” where he highlighted the improvements Mayo needs to display.
He also referenced how Robert Kraft handpicked Mayo to become Bill Belichick’s successor years before there was consideration over the former Patriots head coach’s job status. For Lombardi, Mayo’s lack of experience showed itself this season, and the challenges of becoming a head coach should become apparent to Kraft and team leadership.
Insiders also noted that New England internally is learning on the job and realizing how difficult it is to replace Belichick and the roles he served for over 20 years.
Lombardi doesn’t foresee Mayo getting fired after the season since Kraft was so determined on the idea of him being Belichick’s successor. But a coaching change of some sort could be on the horizon if the Patriots don’t end the season on a high note.
To hear more of Lombardi’s conversation with Balekji and Thomas, listen to “Foxboro Rush” on Spotify or YouTube.
