*Warning* This is a long post about my personal speculation on Mayo and Wolf's job security based on media reports, state of the team etc..
I've been thinking about how silent the Kraft's have been for the past couple of months. Especially since the mutiny within the Pats fan base and even some media are engineering against Mayo. Mostly I've been contemplating what I think that to mean.
First you have a football team full of players freely speaking their minds mostly in a non-positive manner. Second you have a head coach who might have the worst media presence I have ever seen. Third, you have now, a worse record than last year and likely the number one pick in the draft. Which says congratulations your team sucked the most in 2024.
I will focus on the the last point first. I was curious so I googled Kraft interviews and I couldn't find anything since October. One of them may have spoken to the media since then, but I was unable to find a reference to one and I don't recall one.
Since Kraft did his interview explaining why he fired Bellichick, after stating it was an amicable parting of ways. After writing this, it kinda sounds like something our Head Coach would do and say. Anyway he stated this in the interview.
“What he did for us was great. People need to adapt,” Kraft added. “People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.”
Wasn't what he wanted he says. Well clearly 3-14 is not what he wants either as that is worse than any record over the last three to four years. Yet we get report after report by local and national talking heads, mostly saying Mayo is safe. But nothing from the Kraft's directly.
Now to the second point. Mayo's media presence or lack thereof. He clearly has multiple problems. We are all aware of them I am sure, but I will note them here anyway: Contradiction, Lack of Responsibility, Throwing his players and coaches under the bus, but the biggest one IMO, came this week when he statee Gibson would start. He told Zo, he told the broadcast team who made note of it and announced it during the broadcast, he subtilty told us during the week in a presser that changes will be made referencing starters and taking care of the football. Which wasn't hard to read between the lines. Rham was not going to start and would have a reduced role on Saturday.
This is starting to look and feel like a team with internal communication issues starting at the top of the staff and has since spilled onto the field and post game locker room comments from the players. There is no way in hell, if I am the Head Coach and I tell multiple people with certainty, that a player is not going to start due to ball security issues that player will be on the field for the first snap. No if and or buts. If I even see him start trotting on to the field I will be in the coordinators ass! Period! And he will be trotting right back off.
Mayo has no control over this team and that is a blatant example proving it. This can not be explained away by anyone. It was open, it was public and we all saw it. This has been visible all season by the players lack of filter in their responses to the media, but this cements it as fact not just rumor, conjecture or opinion.
The media has been asking Mayo directly about his job security for a month or so now and we get mostly the same answer. The latest one about answering it will do no good, is probably one of the best answers he has given to the media.
The lack of ownership making any statements one way or the other to me is somewhat telling. I believe all the reports from the media even the contradictory ones. And here is why.
We have all heard them, everything from they will give him time. If the team finishes strong he will be back, but maybe with some changes to the staff. If they don't finish strong everything is on the table (some annotate that everything other than Mayo).
As I said I believe them all for various reasons. First timing. I do believe at the various times of these reports the team was in different stages of suck. I do believe 100% the Kraft's were prepared to give Mayo a long leash as the rebuild took place. But IMO, and based off of Robert's own words, he did not expect to take a step back this season. And they have taken a huge step in reverse. I believe the finish strong and changes to the staff was more about the defensive side at first, when these reports started coming out a few weeks ago. Then just before the Buffalo game we heard mixed reports from Mayo is safe all the way to everything is on the table. I again believe that was intentional off the record statements from the Kraft's. I could speculate on the why but I won't because we truly don't know.
After Buffalo, things started swinging back to Mayo is definitely safe and and the staff will be overhauled. Mayo himself sort of reinforced those reports with his "we will see who we want to keep around here" for both players and coaches.
Now the debauchery that took place at one Patriot Way on Saturday brought everything full circle. I mean we had it all. Completely embarrassed at home by a team coached by someone the Kraft's could have pursued and dominated by a rookie that could have been wearing a Pats jersey, if the front office made a different choice. Questionable coaching decisions and the obligatory post game comments. All the while fans chanting "Fire Mayo". The only thing missing was a plane flying over the stadium with a banner saying fire Mayo or sell the team.
The Kraft's witnessed this with their own eyes. For all the grief they receive on here and else where they are not stupid people. They have to be aware of the fan bases sentiment and how widespread it is. They also are aware of the perfect storm this team has to set themselves up for the next decade with the right moves in free agency and the draft. They also should be aware that Wolf who isn't talked about enough or at all during these reports has not shown the ability to be the man leading this effort. I am sure they saw the poll (don't recall where it was) with something like 98% of the respondents want Mayo gone.
I believe the Kraft's silence is tactical. I also believe Robert truly does not want to fire Mayo. IMO, Robert has refrained from making a statement to give Mayo every chance he can while leaving his options open. I think the leaks were the Krafts way to let the public know where they stand. They could easily come out and state Mayo and Wolf are safe and will be back next year putting an end to all the speculation. But they haven't, and IMO that speaks volumes.
I am of the mindset that they are not fully committed one way or the other yet. I can envision them leaning towards cleaning house but giving both Mayo and Wolf a chance to give them a plan heading forward before making the final decision. Mayo for the coaching staff and Wolf for front office staff additions/subtractions, free agency and the draft.
I think Jonathan will have a heavy say in the final decision. If you remember the reports coming out last year. Bob wants to see Bellichick's contract through but Jonathan says he is done. Well, he was done. Looking at the disgust Jonathan showed in Arizona. I think at the very least Mayo will be done. I hope wolf is gone as well or at least bring in an experienced football first front office guy for him to report to.
How do you read the tea leaves and bread crumbs?
