Mayo's Intoductory Press Conference

[Horace's Ivories]

Do your own homework. There are studies about this and it starts at the bottom:

1. Minority position coaches w/ more exp. not being promoted to coord. and when they are, only to DC, when almost every HC job is being filled by white OCs.
2. Minority coord. having to wait longer if ever to get a HC opportunity.
3. White position coaches getting HC opportunities or w/ limited coord. exp.
4. Minority HCs getting canned in much less time than their white counterparts with similar records.
5. White HCs previously fired getting re-cycled while minorities are 1 & done or have to wait years for a 2nd chance.

All the numbers are there that show RACE is absolutely a factor = white you're in, minorities always an excuse.

Stop being lazy and educate yourself instead of spouting today's latest outrage about being victimized by minorities.

Dude - I am all for minority hires all things being equal. 100% agree that there has been unfairness. In this case we were discussing HC hirings of inexperienced people - forgetting about race. 5 years of not even coordinator experience (not co-) has not been done outside of Jeff and that didn't work out at all.

 

[venecol]

Dude - I am all for minority hires all things being equal. 100% agree that there has been unfairness. In this case we were discussing HC hirings of inexperienced people - forgetting about race. 5 years of not even coordinator experience (not co-) has not been done outside of Jeff and that didn't work out at all.

I mean, it has been done. Too lazy to look it up but it's happened more often than you think. I think @TheRainMaker posted something in this thread bout it. This is what I see:

1. Mayo played 8 seasons here, 7 as a captain. By all accounts the dude was smart and a leader at a very young age, which goes to his maturity. I believe the players called him coach on the field or some such thing.

2. Takes a hiatus in business after he retires due to injuries. To me, that gives him a rounded experience dealing w/ ppl in a different environment.

3. Comes back and coaches the D along w/ Steve, for 5 years. By all accounts he was doing the coordinating part of the DC duties. He was also Asst HC this last season, which gives him way more exp. than being a position coach.

4. Kraft sees this guy every day for 13 years and recognizes something in him. All of the Patriots ex-players (white, black) are lauding the selection.

I'm going to trust Kraft made the correct decision and time will tell how well he performs. If he's successful, yeay for us. If he fails, it wouldn't be the 1st time a smart young man has failed before and we start over.

But from there to question everything and ignore all of the above, simply because he made a statement about race, in response to a question, seems at best unfair.

 

[Ring 6]

FYI, it has been pointed out from the media that Mayo actually rejected the DC title last offseason for his own benefit. Had he taken the title and Bill was still in NE today, Mayo could only leave for a promotion at HC somewhere else.

With that said, Mike Vrabel was a DC for one year then a HC. Mike McDaniel was an OC for one year and was a HC. Mike Tomlin was a DC for one year and became a HC. Arthur Smith was never a OC, yet someone how became a HC. Matt LaFleur was a OC for two years and then jumped to a HC position. Andy Reid had 7-8 years of NFL experience (never a Coordinator) and became a HC. Brian Billick wasn't known as an OC for for 4 years until they landed Randy Moss. He was handed the HC job of the Ravens. This is nothing new.

Bob Kraft is in the building everyday with Mayo, not anonymous internet posters. He holds him a very high regard comparing him to BB which is why we saw the bizarre announcement with Mayo turning down the interview with Carolina and immediately returning to NE.

All of the coaches had more coaching experience. Coulda been a coordinator but didn’t want also us not the same as doing the job of coordinator.

 

[Ring 6]

There are a fair amount of differences he said - which I highlighted - that did address concerns people have had and was interesting. As you said, we'll have to see how it goes.

I will say I'm also sort of surprised that considering they hired the guy who learned under someone you hold in such high regard, and cited something he believes in that Belichick emphasized ("Hard work works"), you're not a little more optimistic.

Everything I heard was rhetoric.

It would be great if he continued the franchise as it was set up by the master, but it doesn’t sound like he will. His only comment about belichick was a joke about getting away from him.
Every coach that ever lived cites a cliche along those lines about hard work.

 

[Ring 6]

You can have one great person, but if he's not also surrounded with other great people, he can also fail. We saw that happen the last two years.

People seem to want to think the last 2 years defines a concept that all told produced the greatest 25 year run ever.

 

[Ian]

Everything I heard was rhetoric.

It would be great if he continued the franchise as it was set up by the master, but it doesn’t sound like he will. His only comment about belichick was a joke about getting away from him.

That's not true.

“Now Bill always says this: ‘managing expectations.’ For me, I’m not trying to be Bill," said Mayo. "I’m not trying to be Bill. I think that Bill is his own man. If you can’t tell by now, I’m a little bit different even up here. But what I will say is, the more I think about the lessons that I’ve taken from Bill, hard work works. Hard work works, and that’s what we’re all about.”

 

[Ian]

People seem to want to think the last 2 years defines a concept that all told produced the greatest 25 year run ever.

The brain drain by McDaniels was significant. You're taking it as a shot against Bill, I'm simply saying to your other point that nobody, no matter how good they are, can do it all 100% on their own. Brady couldn't win another title in Tampa without good coaching but, more importantly, talented, healthy players around him down the stretch in those final two seasons, just like Bill suffered significantly when McDaniels left and took some key guys with him.

 

[Ring 6]

The brain drain by McDaniels was significant. You're taking it as a shot against Bill, I'm simply saying to your other point that nobody, no matter how good they are, can do it all 100% on their own. Brady couldn't win another title in Tampa without good coaching but, more importantly, talented, healthy players around him down the stretch in those final two seasons, just like Bill suffered significantly when McDaniels left and took some key guys with him.

Of course no one does it on their own. But to think we got better by extricating the brains of the outfit because taking a step back many years after it should have by all rights happened is silly.
The void is seemingly being filed by nicknames and cliches and hopes that we can overcome the head coach by getting hall of fame level assistants so far. Not inspiring.

 

[venecol]

This is what I'm hoping we get with Mayo.

 

[venecol]

 

[cmasspatsfan]

It’s not the same at all. You are creating a scenario and calling that the only thing that applies.

Let be put it another way.

If you hire a coach and he says I know how I want things done, I will run the ship, and I am accountable. My assistants will report to me and coach the players based upon the direction I give them.
If you hired the right guy you have a good team.

However if you hire a guy who says I want a diverse coaching staff with lots of fresh ideas and I encourage them to want me to do it their way.
You would have to hire a whole staff of incredible assistants to have a good team.

For years BB got criticized for just having yes man and no one to question him on his ideas and got crap for that, Now Mayo wants to do the opposite and welcome ideas and challenges to his way of thinking and that's no good?

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I think some of the posters that were against Mayo getting the job are picking at nits to support their original opinion. Let's give the guy a chance and see how it goes, I wanted Vrabel as my first choice but the more I hear and learn about Mayo, the more I like.

 

[Ring 6]

For years BB got criticized for just having yes man and no one to question him on his ideas and got crap for that, Now Mayo wants to do the opposite and welcome ideas and challenges to his way of thinking and that's no good?

Why is it inconsistent that people criticizing the guy who had the most success ever for sticking to what he believes are wrong AND people thinking a guy who doesn’t have a conviction in how to do things is better are wrong too?

 

[Ring 6]

I think some of the posters that were against Mayo getting the job are picking at nits to support their original opinion. Let's give the guy a chance and see how it goes, I wanted Vrabel as my first choice but the more I hear and learn about Mayo, the more I like.

I was not for or against Mayo getting the job because I didn’t interview him and I have not interacted with him.
Therefore as his attitudes, personality, and beliefs come out publicly, I can begin to form an opinion.
What other way is there?

What specifically are you hearing and learning that make you like him more?

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Why is it inconsistent that people criticizing the guy who had the most success ever for sticking to what he believes are wrong AND people thinking a guy who doesn’t have a conviction in how to do things is better are wrong too?

Well people blamed BB for not encouraging outside ideas and blamed part of the bad years on that so why criticize a guy that's open to ideas and lets see how he does.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I was not for or against Mayo getting the job because I didn’t interview him and I have not interacted with him.
Therefore as his attitudes, personality, and beliefs come out publicly, I can begin to form an opinion.
What other way is there?

Give him time next year and see how the team does.

 

[Ring 6]

Give him time next year and see how the team does.

I’m giving my opinion today. It can’t include how the team does next year.
Of course my opinion will be changed by how he does.

 

[Ring 6]

Well people blamed BB for not encouraging outside ideas and blamed part of the bad years on that so why criticize a guy that's open to ideas and let’s see how he does.

Because I don’t agree with “people”. And I think the way that brought 6 lombardis and more success than any one had ever had, in spite of a couple of bad years 20 years in, is better than “let’s try something else”

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I’m giving my opinion today. It can’t include how the team does next year.
Of course my opinion will be changed by how he does.

We've had over 20 years of the GOAT QB and GOAT HC, things are going to look different no matter who they picked, and expectations are going to be high. I'd hate to be the guy that follows the GOAT.

 

[condon84]

Mayo answered the race question like how leaders are supposed to, honest and to the point. It's unfortunate that some have twisted his words and have quickly put a label on him. A leader needs to be able to speak freely, even if that makes people uncomfortable.