The New England Patriots have a multitude of uncertainties to address and several young players to develop over the next couple of seasons. In order to successfully transition into a new era of Foxborough football, a strong leader is needed. First-year head coach Jerod Mayo must set the tone early if he is going to truly command respect from his locker room.
It appears the former Super Bowl champion and All-Pro linebacker is doing just that during training camp, following his latest decree. He issued a firm message to Patriots players before their joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Jerod Mayo’s message to players on fights in joint practice: If you are a starter and you fight, you are playing the entire preseason game,” ESPN's Mike Reiss reported on Tuesday. “If you are a backup and you fight, you aren’t playing in the preseason game at all.”
Walking the line between disciplinarian and player's coach is perhaps the most difficult balancing act there is for the sideline shot-callers to master. Many fall, while others stay on their feet. But some simply refuse to step foot on the tightrope entirely. Legendary HC Bill Belichick did not set out to make friends. His focus was incentivizing his guys to perform their job to the fullest. The formula helped produce dynastic results, but it came at a cost.
Resentment and hard feelings grew and festered, leading to a couple of complicated breakups. Mayo learned under Belichick, so fans should expect him to emphasize order and rules, albeit with a different tenor. He is not tolerating any funny business at practice this week.
Jerod Mayo wants Patriots to be focused heading into Eagles game
Because the Patriots and Eagles are squaring off in a Week 2 preseason matchup on Thursday night, there is a chance the competitive juices could flow a bit too freely. Training camp fights break out within a single team, never mind when an opponent is on the field. Jerod Mayo is wisely appealing to the distinct motivations of his players so as to prevent a fracas.
Veterans do not want to risk injury by logging more preseason snaps than necessary. And rookies and youngsters desperately fighting for a roster spot want to see as much exhibition action as reasonably possible. Their livelihoods could depend on those opportunities. Considering these high stakes, New England managed to keep its emotions in check on Tuesday afternoon.
Beyond wanting to cultivate an atmosphere of respect and discipline, Mayo surely wants the Patriots to save their energy for Thursday's game. His position is clear, though. A strong authority presence will seemingly remain a fixture of this franchise.
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