OT: Mayo’s first public appearance since his firing

[TheRainMaker]

Kraft set him up to fail. There was no way he was going to be successful with a subpar roster. It's a shame how it ended.

Mayo is a grown man and could’ve told Bob this wasn’t the job for him. However, the reason he didn’t turn it down was because he would’ve lost out on the buyout clause and received nothing.

 

[Tunescribe]

Mayo is a grown man and could’ve told Bob this wasn’t the job for him. However, the reason he didn’t turn it down was because he would’ve lost out on the buyout clause and received nothing.

Integrity has a price, apparently.

 

[TommyD4207]

Integrity has a price, apparently.

$10 million guaranteed, apparently.

 

[Tunescribe]

$10 million guaranteed, apparently.

Which poses the question: Is feeling uncomfortable showing your face in a professional setting worth $10 million? I suppose most folks would say yes.

 

[Sorrynotsorry]

Which poses the question: Is feeling uncomfortable showing your face in a professional setting worth $10 million? I suppose most folks would say yes.

I can see mayo crying in his 10 million every time we feel bad for him.

 

[Patjew]

Which poses the question: Is feeling uncomfortable showing your face in a professional setting worth $10 million? I suppose most folks would say yes.

I would say yes as (imagining I am Mayo) a young man knowing that people have short memories and there can be an excellent Coaching Act II awaiting him.

 

[Brotherblues]

This level is where he should be coaching then move to the nfl once he proves he can do it.

Still a couple of levels too high

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Nice guy / ill equipped coach

 

[Kasmir]

Nice guy / ill equipped coach

I don't know if he was a nice guy.

The whole trip to Israel thing screams pandering to Kraft, and calling him "Thunder" in public was nauseatingly obsequious. Makes me wonder how their private meetings went.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

He failed because he wasn’t ready to be the head coach of a pro football team. He was inexperienced and handed a roster that was the worst in the league. The result was painfully predictable.

I doubt it had anything to do with what you said but whatever fits the narrative people were shaping before he even ran a practice.

I agree. Like Tunes said, even though Mayo wasn't ready he thought he was going to innovate the position and redefine how to build character. One of those guys that believes everything he hears at a self-help seminar.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

You're entitled to your opinion, but I think that three things are evident.

1. What made BB great was his willingness to listen to others (especially Ernie) even though he didn't show his cards to anyone. Towards the end of his regime, though, it seems to have been a reign of terror and those who questioned his decisions (particularly his mad, post-McDaniels offensive coaching structure) like Damien Harris, Meyers and, apparently, Hoyer, were shipped out.

2. None of BB's former coaches have had great success as Head Coaches elsewhere, not because they weren't very knowledgeable about football and excellent position coaches, but because of their failures in relating to their players.

3. The players last season loved Mayo and really bought in to his leadership (a Gatorade shower after his first game!)

They were let down by terrible GM-ing (14 different players on the O-Line, only one survivor from the draft) and appalling coaching by AVP and Covington.

I don't see Mayo as having been "self-important" but inexperienced and unsure of himself. What he needed was a consigliere to ease him into the role. What he got was Eliot Wolf.

Anyway, Vrabel is here now -- but Wolf remains.

The Patriots have $32 million in dead money (people who are being paid not to be here!) of which over 20 million comes from Godchaux, Peppers, David Andrews, Strange, Bentley, and Bourne. Were none of them good enough even to be backups? Or is this more player selection on the basis of whose guy you are, not how you can play?

Great post especially #2.

Andrews, Strange, and Bentley are injury guys. It is a violent sport and these things happen. No need to hold on after injuries - I am glad we didn't hang on. Godchaux didn't fit even though he is an NFL player. Bourne was the odd man out - it happens.

J Andrews being cut and then starting for the Texans is odd - who cuts starters on a rookie deal? Elliss is better than Peppers in the passing game? NOT. Our LBs suck - that is all on Vrabel who was a LB in the league. Go figure. The defense has looked disjointed and unprepared. Again that is all on Vrabel.