FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Mayo’s strategy: When free agent working again Antonio Gibson arrived at Gillette Stadium in mid-March to signal his three-year contract with the Patriots, he had his daughter Taylor with him. Gibson mentioned the way in which head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed Taylor love made an impression on him, in addition to how Mayo felt like “one of many guys.”
Receiver Ok.J. Osborn got here away from his preliminary assembly with the sensation that Mayo is “an actual down-to-earth man.” He added: “As a former participant, he was very easy to speak to; he is a gamers’ coach and I like that.”
Likewise, veteran tight finish Austin Hooper sat down with Mayo within the group cafeteria throughout his go to, with Hooper saying: “I used to be capable of perceive who he’s — a household man — and what he is attempting to construct right here. It was actually productive.”
The tales replicate what Mayo beforehand mentioned could be a foundational a part of his teaching model: Constructing bonds with gamers, displaying he cares about them as folks, earlier than hopefully pushing them to attain their best potential as gamers.
Can it work?
Proprietor Robert Kraft is banking on it after shifting on from the legendary Invoice Belichick after 24 seasons. The final time Kraft made a training swap, in 2000, it was from the lighter contact of Pete Carroll to the extra buttoned-up, hard-lined Belichick. This time, Kraft mentioned he’s trusting his instincts by tapping Mayo, with the pondering {that a} extra relational-based strategy — and general group tradition — is the wanted spark to assist return the franchise to prominence.
A part of that’s tied to the present era of gamers coming into the NFL, with former Patriots cornerback Jason McCourty, who’s a part of NFL Community’s “Good Morning Soccer” present, acknowledging, “The league is in slightly little bit of a transition. Gamers now are completely different than after I first got here in.”
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McCourty, 36, entered the NFL in 2009 with the Tennessee Titans — one yr after Mayo was chosen within the first spherical by the Patriots. He believes Mayo’s strategy can work, citing what he skilled himself with the Dolphins in 2022.
“I did not get an opportunity to play for Mike McDaniel, however I received an opportunity to satisfy with him. I used to be injured and was nonetheless within the constructing in March [when he was hired], and we sat down and talked for in all probability 30-40 minutes. The primary time I ever met him — the quirkiness, and the issues about him we have all seen transpire during the last two years — that is who he was,” McCourty mentioned.
“So I take a look at it for Jerod, the very best factor you are able to do for your self is be your self, and be sincere. I believe the worst factor that may probably occur is for gamers to see you act a method for nonetheless a few years that he is been there as a linebackers coach, and subsequent factor you understand you develop into the pinnacle man and also you completely flip as a result of now extra issues fall on you and you must make extra choices.”
McCourty added that the majority gamers perceive the NFL is a enterprise and so they recognize honesty. He pointed to how his Patriots profession ended for example of why he holds no laborious emotions towards New England — or any of his former groups.
“As tough across the edges as folks say Invoice [Belichick] is, after I was a free agent that final yr, he known as me to verify in a number of instances all through free company. The primary time it was to say, ‘Hey, you understand how a lot we love you right here, however presently we’re not trying to signal you.’ And the final time was ‘When you’ve got different alternatives, it is best to discover them.’ So I believe as a participant you’ll be able to recognize that,” he mentioned.
“From Jerod, I believe so long as he retains that the primary factor, him being a gamers’ coach — or nonetheless you need to phrase it — I believe that is who he’s. So inviting household in, displaying guys ‘Hey, that is who I’m, that is who I’ll be each single day whether or not we win or whether or not we lose,’ I believe that may go a great distance.”
McCourty in contrast this model to how Andy Reid is like in Kansas Metropolis.
“They name him ‘Huge Crimson.’ They snort with him and speak about consuming cheeseburgers and all these issues,” McCourty mentioned. “I known as their sport in Germany and so they had been going via some issues, and I keep in mind speaking to Travis Kelce and he was like, ‘Huge Crimson needed to get after us within the group assembly room, and he tell us precisely the place we stood as a soccer group.’
“I believe that is who Mayo in all probability was as a participant. It is no completely different from whenever you’re main a huddle and you must inform a man about himself, however you are additionally having fun with moments with these guys within the locker room. I believe you are able to do each, however you must set a regular and an expectation for what it is going to be, and you reside as much as that each single day.”
2. Scouting QBs: Mayo and director of scouting Eliot Wolf had been amongst these from the group attending USC professional day Wednesday, after which Michigan professional day Friday. That gave them a more in-depth take a look at quarterbacks Caleb Williams (USC) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan). And this week, they are going to doubtless be at LSU on Wednesday for Jayden Daniels and North Carolina on Thursday for Drake Maye.
Many undertaking the Patriots will likely be choosing a quarterback with the No. 3 choose, and their scouting schedule will solely reinforce that thought.
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3. NFL assembly: The NFL’s annual assembly takes place Sunday via Tuesday in Orlando, Florida, with Mayo scheduled to deal with reporters Monday at 7:45 a.m. as a part of the AFC coaches breakfast. Kraft historically has answered questions from reporters on the assembly.
Barring a late change, Wolf is not scheduled to attend, maybe permitting him to focus extra on what Kraft has known as probably the most anticipated draft in his 31-year possession tenure.
4. One further week: As a result of Mayo is a brand new head coach, the Patriots can begin their voluntary offseason program two weeks early, per league guidelines. However Mayo has elected to separate the distinction, taking just one further week. So the Patriots are set to begin April 8.
5. JMac’s view: By the primary wave of free company, McCourty nonetheless sees “plenty of holes” throughout the Patriots’ roster, notably at quarterback and receiver. He believes Mayo and Wolf will want a number of years to replenish them.
Conversely, he pointed to the group retaining proper sort out Mike Onwenu and security Kyle Dugger (through the transition tag) as “a step in the correct path” as a result of “it units an expectation for guys within the locker room — ‘we drafted these guys, developed them, they’re a number of the greatest at their place, so whenever you do the correct factor within the constructing we need to present you we would like you right here for the long run.'”
6. Core STs: The discharge of core particular teamer Chris Board, who was a Belichick favourite, appears to replicate a philosophical shift with the brand new Patriots regime. Whereas Belichick was extra keen to speculate on the high of the marketplace for core particular teamers who may not contribute as a lot (if in any respect) in different areas, Mayo and Wolf seem much less keen. Board, who performed protection with the Ravens and Lions, wasn’t considered as a match on protection in New England.
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7. Quiet on Bryant: Free agent defensive again Myles Bryant, who performed 75% of the defensive snaps final season and was fourth on the Patriots with 77 tackles, stays in the marketplace after spending the previous 4 seasons in New England. My learn: He misplaced a high advocate in Belichick. The Patriots could be open to bringing him again on a wage that displays him extra as a depth participant than key cog, however there’s been no alignment up to now.
8. They mentioned it: “It is much less in regards to the rawness of the quarterback and extra in regards to the scenario that quarterback is strolling into. You take a look at what occurred with Carolina final yr, I see plenty of similarities — by way of the dearth of separation amongst the talent gamers, some query marks alongside the offensive line…” — ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes, on “The Mina Kimes Present that includes Lenny,” opining on the opportunity of the Patriots drafting a quarterback at No. 3 and never having him play immediately to keep away from an analogous scenario as No. 1 general choose Bryce Younger in 2023.
9. Do you know, Half I: Since 2010, the Patriots have chosen eight quarterbacks within the NFL draft, tied with the Jets and Titans for many within the NFL.
10. Do you know, Half II: The Patriots, who personal the No. 3 general choose, have by no means picked third in franchise historical past (since 1960).