The Patriots have a major problem on their hands, and we have no reason to believe they’ll fix it.
New England is currently in position to make the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and while that might seem like a great thing to help the franchise improve on recent misfortunes, it probably won’t. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini have been adamant that Jerod Mayo is expected to return to the sidelines next season, and that would be a mistake.
It’s been a disaster down in Foxboro, Mass.
Mayo was put in an awful position when hired back in January, and we want to recognize that before continuing to suggest that he should lose his job. Bill Belichick’s legacy was going cast a massive shadow over whoever ultimately succeeded him, and the fact that it was a former player who he brought back into the fold — who owner Robert Kraft claims was hand-picked to be his replacement half a decade ago — certainly doesn’t help. It’s just abundantly clear that he isn’t fit for the role.
Mayo’s first season running the show has featured numerous deflections of blame, retracted statements, flip-flop decisions and asinine comments — which is a far cry from the open communication, accountability, sunshine and lollipops that we were all promised when he took over.
Why?
Mayo built an untenable, objectionable culture inside the walls of One Patriot Place.
Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai showcased a perfect example of our argument on Friday, as he took aim at fans for showcasing their displeasure during last Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
“There’s a reason why they’re fans.. in the long end, they’re not qualified to do what Mayo’s doing,” Tavai said on “The Greg Hill Show.” “… I appreciate them at times, but sometimes they just gotta know their place and understand it’s a work in progress.”
Do you see any examples of accountability in that quote?
No, because that isn’t something the franchise seems to require anymore. Tavai is hardly the first person to say something eye-opening this season, as the likes of defensive linemen Davon Godchaux and Daniel Ekuale, wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk and Mayo have all said things that made us do a double-take, and they all went unchecked.
The Patriots did release wide receivers Tyquan Thornton and K.J. Osborn, but that had far more to do with their on-field performance than social media posts.
Mayo’s approach to “free and open” communication was a nice idea in theory, but this is the type of stuff that comes as a result.
Tavai, wide receiver DeMario Douglas and cornerback Jonathan Jones have all claimed that his leadership style is what current players need, but we’d argue it’s closer to what they want. Patriots defensive lineman Keion White took full accountability for his lack of production this season, following it up with a call for change — all but saying the opposite to that of his teammates.
Who would you believe? The guy taking accountability and asking for change amid a lost season, or those who want things to stay the same?
Mayo very well could turn things around, as one year of learning on the job is hardly enough to draw long-term conclusions. It’s not like he’s done much to make believers out of anyone outside the building, though.
The Patriots need to have some uncomfortable conversations over the coming weeks, and the way we currently see it, they should lead to a change.
