Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo makes another media gaffe
The New England Patriots dropped to 3-11 after a 30-17 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Not only did the Patriots get handed another defeat but they were handed another media gaffe by rookie head coach Jerod Mayo.
In the third quarter, already down 16-3, the Patriots were desperate for a touchdown. At the Cardinals four yard line and only needing a yard for the first down the Patriots were stopped short. Running back’s Antonio Gibson and Rhomandre Stevenson both were unable to gain any yardage on back-to-back handoffs that resulted in a turnover on downs.
Mayo was asked about why didn’t quarterback Drake Maye get a chance to run the ball himself, and Mayo said “You said it, I didn’t.”
With his response, an immediate reaction you can make is that he was throwing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt under the bus. Realizing his mistake, Mayo said in his follow up that ultimately it his responsibility on decision making. Too little, too late at that point.
Questioning the play calling after the game is what the media and fans do. This question shouldn’t have thrown Mayo off guard. A simple response of “we will look at the film and review if/what we could’ve done better throughout the whole game” would’ve made plenty of more sense.
This latest media gaffe is far from the only one that Mayo has made as head coach. In his first radio interview as head coach, on WEEI, he was asked about the upcoming offseason plans.
Mayo said the Patriots were ready to “burn some cash.” That was also walked back as he knew he overstepped, as spending ultimately falls under the Kraft ownership and free agency decisions fall under general manager Eliot Wolf.
That one could be excused, as that was his first radio interview and he was feeling good after getting the head coaching job. The others included calling the players soft, which Mayo again corrected later on saying he meant they were playing soft.
For a former player that was a captain and was mentored under Bill Belichick, it is unfathomable that Mayo continues to put himself in these situations.
Mayo, before joining the Patriots coaching staff, he also in the media when he co-hosted Quick Slants on NBCSN with Tom Curran. When hiring any new head coach, especially a rookie, there is always risk. It is hard to see that Robert or Jonathan Kraft could have expected this media issue would arise.
A record of 3-11, maybe 3-14, when the season is finished will result in changes. Given the low expectations heading into the season and lack of talent on the roster, it is understandable if the leash for Mayo was and maybe still is long.
However, in addition to the bad results, now seems frequent media gaffes and maybe a divide with the offensive coordinator. Robert Kraft has yet to go on record about the job Jerod Mayo is doing this whole season. His quietness is getting louder as each game is played.
