Pats prefer J.Mayo over K.Rivers?

[slash83]

http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/home_NFL.aspx

SI.com's Don Banks says he's been told that the Patriots like Jerod Mayo of Tennessee better than USC LB Keith Rivers.

Unlike Rivers, Mayo has experience inside and his build is a shade closer to that which New England looks for from inside 'backers. Rivers is listed at 6'2/241, but usually played in the 230-pound range at Southern Cal.
Source: chargers.com

Related: Jerod Mayo

 

[SamBamsFan]

I could have told him that-
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=81492
I thought that I'd get slammed for heresy. Maybe Pats draftniks are getting soft in their old age.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

I know the rumors fly loose and easy this time of the NFL year, but this one is music to my ears because the Pats could trade way down and still get Mayo, a guy I get a good vibe for. If the Pats don't get too greedy they will be able to get out of number 7 and still nab a soon-to-be starter in Mayo. Cool deal...

 

[SamBamsFan]

I know the rumors fly loose and easy this time of the NFL year, but this one is music to my ears because the Pats could trade way down and still get Mayo, a guy I get a good vibe for. If the Pats don't get too greedy they will be able to get out of number 7 and still nab a soon-to-be starter in Mayo. Cool deal...

Watch out for Denver & Detroit. Rumor has it that they both have big interest.

 

[patchick]

Another pair of numbers worth noting: Wonderlics.

Rivers: 16
Mayo: 26

At ILB that's a very significant difference. FWIW, Mayo is my top-rated ILB too.

 

[Keegs]

Im more interested in Tommy Mustard, a 5th round projected prospect.

Him or Franklin Relish from East North Dakota Tech

 

[VJCPatriot]

Watch out for Denver & Detroit. Rumor has it that they both have big interest.

If they want to reach for Mayo they are welcome to do so.
I wouldn't draft an ILB sooner than #20, unless his name happens to be Patrick Willis. And nobody seems to be able to claim that Mayo is Patrick Willis with a straight face.

On a lighter note, what kind of name for a linebacker is Mayo?

Yeah Mayo brings the hit with the extra cheese!
Man he sure got a Lettuce and Mayo sandwiched!
Mayo? No thanks, I'm watching my calories.
My Mayo has a first name its O-S-C-A-R!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.chargers.com/news/headlines/nfl-insider-gets.htm

You mentioned Stewart as a guy that’s rising. Is there anyone else who has gotten hot right now?

“A guy that I have in the top 10, and it’s not terribly widespread, is Jerod Mayo, the inside linebacker from Tennessee. I have him going to New England at 10 because I have the Saints coming up from 10 to 7 on my board to get Sedrick Ellis. Everybody knows the Patriots wouldn’t mind getting out of the seventh spot if certain players are gone. I’ve been told they like Mayo more than Rivers, which is one reason Rivers has fallen a bit on my board.

“My thinking is New England believes Mayo is really experienced at the inside linebacker position. He’s played in the middle and they think he’ll make a good inside linebacker. That will allow them to move Adalius Thomas back outside where his playmaking ability seems to be higher.”

 

[PonyExpress]

If they want to reach for Mayo they are welcome to do so.
I wouldn't draft an ILB sooner than #20, unless his name happens to be Patrick Willis. And nobody seems to be able to claim that Mayo is Patrick Willis with a straight face.

I think Mayo can be as good as Willis for the Pats system, because he is smarter, more capable of learning a new defensive scheme each week, and better vs the pass. He is also virtually identical to Willis athletically, and it was his lack of experience early in the season at MLB that caused some to misevaluate him. As the season went on he got better and better, because he is a very smart guy.

I see the Pats trading back to #13 with Carolina for Ryan and selecting Mayo there.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Bring the sacks, but hold the Mayo!

You didn't say Mother Mayo.

Mayo or Maynot, there is no try.

 

[Seneschal2]

I see the Pats trading back to #13 with Carolina for Ryan and selecting Mayo there.

I've never been high on Rivers, and Mayo is my #1 ILB. Gosselin has him ranked #19 overall, making him a solid value pick in any trade down.

 

[Keegs]

I think Mayo can be as good as Willis for the Pats system, because he is smarter, more capable of learning a new defensive scheme each week, and better vs the pass. He is also virtually identical to Willis athletically, and it was his lack of experience early in the season at MLB that caused some to misevaluate him. As the season went on he got better and better, because he is a very smart guy.

I see the Pats trading back to #13 with Carolina for Ryan and selecting Mayo there.

i would be more than happy with this

 

[alvinnf]

What about the injury history? Anyone have any insight into what when or how often?

 

[slash83]

speaking of Mayo this was a question on one of ESPN's chats... Matt Williamson was the dude answering ?'s.

Os (Jersey): Over the last few weeks Mayo has skyrocketed in buzz. Is he really gone by the middle of round 1?

Matt Williamson: I have said for a while that I think he is the best LB prospect in this draft and better than Rivers. Would be shocked if he was there after Det's pick. NE isn't into taking LBs that high, but he is their type of guy. Just saying...

 

[sebman2112]

I think Mayo can be as good as Willis for the Pats system, because he is smarter, more capable of learning a new defensive scheme each week, and better vs the pass. He is also virtually identical to Willis athletically, and it was his lack of experience early in the season at MLB that caused some to misevaluate him. As the season went on he got better and better, because he is a very smart guy.

I see the Pats trading back to #13 with Carolina for Ryan and selecting Mayo there.

They aren't "virtually the same athletically", despite the similar Combine numbers (Might be hard for the Combine geeks to grasp), and since when is Mayo more intelligent than Patrick Willis? I doubt it, and any member of this forum is going to have a hard time selling me on the idea of Mayo actually being as good as Willis.

Really, did you guys watch much SEC football? Willis was an absolute monster at Ole Miss, and it never really seemed all that realistic to believe he was going to be around for the 24th overall selection. Also, I think part of the reason Mayo's climbing the board happens to be the fact that some of these mediots believe the Patriots are going to select a LB, and they're simply trying to plug one in. You know, how Kiper was plugging Talib in for them at 7th, when all the mediots thought the lose of Asante Samuel was going to be the thorn in their side?

Incidentally, this is Don Banks, and the Patriots have given him bad pre-draft info before, so I wouldn't at all take this as the truth. Last year before the draft word leaked that NE was going to select David Harris....he's on the Jets.

 

[Keegs]

What about the injury history? Anyone have any insight into what when or how often?

doesn't really matter...regardless of that info, i'm sure he'll be injured often if we draft im.

Everyone is always injured.

 

[BRiZ]

They aren't "virtually the same athletically", despite the similar Combine numbers (Might be hard for the Combine geeks to grasp), and since when is Mayo more intelligent than Patrick Willis? I doubt it, and any member of this forum is going to have a hard time selling me on the idea of Mayo actually being as good as Willis.

Really, did you guys watch much SEC football? Willis was an absolute monster at Ole Miss, and it never really seemed all that realistic to believe he was going to be around for the 24th overall selection. Also, I think part of the reason Mayo's climbing the board happens to be the fact that some of these mediots believe the Patriots are going to select a LB, and they're simply trying to plug one in. You know, how Kiper was plugging Talib in for them at 7th, when all the mediots thought the lose of Asante Samuel was going to be the thorn in their side?

Incidentally, this is Don Banks, and the Patriots have given him bad pre-draft info before, so I wouldn't at all take this as the truth. Last year before the draft word leaked that NE was going to select David Harris....he's on the Jets.

i have no doubt that the Pats like Mayo better than Rivers. Mayo's character and football intelligence is off the charts compared to Rivers. Just dont think they will be taking him at 7 though, maybe if they trade down.

 

[patchick]

doesn't really matter...regardless of that info, i'm sure he'll be injured often if we draft im.

Everyone is always injured.

Keegs, you seem a little down. Everything ok in LeKevinland?

 

[sebman2112]

i have no doubt that the Pats like Mayo better than Rivers. Mayo's character and football intelligence is off the charts compared to Rivers. Just dont think they will be taking him at 7 though, maybe if they trade down.

But they would take Dominique Rodgers at 7th overall though, right?

Edit: His "Character and football intelligence is off the charts compared to Rivers"?

Going by Wonderlic scores or their actual football intelligence? I ask because most scouting reports seem to disagree.

 

[JoePats]

Incidentally, this is Don Banks, and the Patriots have given him bad pre-draft info before, so I wouldn't at all take this as the truth. Last year before the draft word leaked that NE was going to select David Harris....he's on the Jets.

It's certainly possible the Pats were going to draft Harris at 28 before they got an offer that they couldn't refuse from San Francisco.