Patriots fans have become used to Jerod Mayo walking things back, but Saturday marked one of the head coach’s most egregious backtracks yet.
In the hours leading up to New England’s Week 17 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, Mayo revealed Antonio Gibson would start at running back in Foxboro, Mass. A demotion for Rhamondre Stevenson was warranted after the feature back continued his fumbling woes in Week 16.
But when the Patriots took the field for their first drive against the Bolts, it was Stevenson who stood behind quarterback Drake Maye. After New England’s lopsided loss, Gibson opened up about Mayo going against his public announcement.
“I was told nothing all week about me starting, so that wasn’t even on my mind,” Gibson told ABC6’s Nick Coit. “I had no type of feelings toward that. We did the same thing we’ve been doing: Mondre got his snaps, I got my snaps.”
Mayo called it a “coach’s decision” to go against benching Stevenson. Gibson ended up leading the Patriots’ rushing attack anyway, but his 63 yards weren’t nearly enough to keep New England competitive against Jim Harbaugh’s side.
Gibson will close out his first season with the Patriots on Sunday when New England hosts the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills.
