Patriots News 1-14, Thoughts On Belichick, Mayo, Gillette is Now Area 51
(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 9 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Commentary
(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) 🕑 Read Time: 9 minutes
New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports) Good morning, and Happy Wildcard Weekend for the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Patriots will not be part of it this postseason, but it does give you a chance to enjoy a weekend of football without any stress of watching games and considering possible matchups for the Pats.
However, all things considered, it is much more fun when the Patriots are involved. Here’s hoping that the 2024 season brings them back to winning and getting a berth in the postseason.
While we all knew that Belichick wouldn’t coach forever, it was still shocking to a degree to see him and Robert Kraft at the podium announcing not his retirement but that he would no longer be coaching the Patriots.
The stability that the franchise has had for 24 years is gone, and the Patriots are starting over with a new GM (yet to be announced) and a new head coach (Jerod Mayo). Many fans and media members have been openly calling for Belichick to be fired for a good while now, and while I am excited to see what Mayo can bring to the table (more below), be careful what you ask for.
Belichick came to New England for a 1st round draft pick in 2020. The team went 5-11, and many questioned Kraft for that move. Those questions went away in 2001 with the emergence of the 4th string QB, Tom Brady, and Belichick when they shocked the NFL with an improbable Super Bowl XXXVI victory over the Rams.
That 20-year run of excellence would probably never be duplicated. The Patriots made it to nine Super Bowls, winning six of them, and the AFC East ran through New England. In an era of parity in the NFL, the Patriots were the team to break that mold.
On the subject of Brady, the lamest argument ever is, “Bill’s record sucks without Brady.” Sure, let’s erase nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl wins. Kevin Faulk, who was an integral part of those early Patriots SB teams, has gone on record laughing at the ‘Was it Bill or Brady” argument.
“Defense,” Faulk said, as quoted by The Athletic. “Defense, defense, defense. We all know who designed the defense for those great teams. That’s what he did. That’s how he made his mark (with the New York Giants), and that’s what he did with the Patriots.
“Now look, Brady is Brady,” Faulk added. “Nothing changes that. But those two matched up was like a match made in heaven. Now they’re saying, ‘Oh, Brady went to Tampa, and Bill had nothing after Brady left.’ Yeah! Right! Exactly right! But what nobody talks about is that Brady had the opportunity to pick the team he went to, and he picked a pretty darned good team with some really good receivers. And it worked out. Bill, on the other hand, had to start from scratch.”
In essence, it was both; they both had each other to be tremendously successful year in and year out. Under Belichick, the Patriots became well known for having the ability to change their identity from week to week.
Brady brought unselfishness to the table, sacrificing money and stats for wins. He elevated the supporting cast around him to unprecedented heights. Routinely, we’d hear, “Team A is much more talented than the Patriots.” But the Patriots would win most of those big games with amazing regularity. Why? Brady and Belichick. Tony Dungy put it best.
“When I was coaching, I’d always tell my team, ‘We have to beat these guys because they will not beat themselves.’”
Brady posted on social media after the press conference the following heartfelt message:
“We accomplished some amazing things over a long period of time, many of which will be hard to replicate,” Brady wrote. “He worked every day to help us achieve the ultimate goal, in the ultimate team sport. … I could never have been the player I was without you, Coach Belichick. I am forever grateful. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose next.”
Belichick is the best football coach ever, and the revisionist history folks will have to spew their vitriol elsewhere. I had limited media credentials during the heyday, but it was never less than an honor to sit in the room and listen to the greatest football mind talk about the history of the game at times. Yes, we’d have to sit through the grunts, snorts, and monosyllabic answers, but when Bill got on a roll, it was a privilege listening to the #1 master of his craft.
And unfortunately, that is now gone. But many accused Belichick of arrogance with these answers. Perhaps, but the bottom line was he didn’t care. He never wanted to be the media darling of the NFL. He didn’t care about any of that. His job, his entire being was preparing to win football games.
But the last two years have been very tough, and this season was his worst as a coach. The Patriots were a disaster offensively, and Belichick was the one who put together the team. And that forced Kraft’s hand to replace him. But Kraft now has to live with the decision to move on. Kraft largely skated on the Brady fiasco, with Belichick taking the flak. But this one is on the ownership.
Of course, the nightmare scenario for Robert Kraft is that Belichick moves on and wins a Super Bowl in the 2024 season, much like Brady did in 2020. Two teams to keep an eye on are in the playoffs right now, Dallas and Buffalo. Both are primed to win now, but if neither has a deep playoff run, then the head coaches may be replaced.
Can you imagine Buffalo with Belichick as a head coach facing the Patriots twice next season? And “what if” Belichick goes to Buffalo and wins the Super Bowl? However, I digress. Good luck, and thank you, Bill, for 20 years of absolute excellence that we were privileged to witness.
But we never did get an Army guy in New England…and we need to talk about that.
Anfernee Jennings: The Patriots’ edge player should be near the top of players brought back by now-head coach Jerod Mayo in 2024. After Matthew Judon went down with an injury early in the season, Jennings stepped into the role and was an excellent run defender with a growing toolbox of pass-rush moves.
I’ve been a staunch Jennings supporter from Day 1, but this season, the numbers speak for themselves. Jennings had 38 run stops, tied for the most with Maxx Crosby for edge players, and he had 15 tackles for loss (TFLs) or no gain, tied with Khalil Mack for #2 in the league. That is some good company.
With increased opportunities, he’s shown to be a great setter of the edge, with excellent power, anchor, and technique.
Patriots 4th & 2 Podcast: If you haven’t listened to our PatsFans.com podcast, Patriots 4th & 2”, in a bit, please check it out. Patriots 4th & 2 has expanded.
Derek Havens and I did a podcast about Bill Belichick and the team is no longer his but Jerod Mayo’s.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t in is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed the game with how teams used the tight end position…this will be on our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t in the team’s.
The Patriots announced that Jerod Mayo will be the team’s new head coach, the first in 25 years. Mayo wore #51 in his career with the Patriots, and now he’ll have the tough task of turning Gillette Stadium, built by the legends of Belichick and Brady, into Area 51, building his own team, his own way.
Mayo played his entire eight-year career with the Patriots, who drafted him in the 1st round, 10th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was named the AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, notching 128 tackles.
As a player, Mayo was described by fellow LB Tedy Bruschi as “an old soul,” wise beyond his years. Other defensive players referred to him as another “Bill” in reference to his knowledge on the field and how he was always well-prepared.
He returned to the Patriots as a linebacker coach in 2019 and has been considered as a head coaching candidate in just a few short years. Mayo has been the de facto Defensive Coordinator despite not having the title, although he shares responsibilities with Steve Belichick.
Last year, Robert Kraft said, “There is no ceiling on his ability to grow and how competent he is.”… “Well, he’s definitely a strong candidate to be the heir apparent, but we have some other good people in our system. So right now, we have a good head coach, and we’re doing everything we can to support him and make sure we do everything we can to win.”
“He expects greatness out of everyone. And he understands that greatness is only achievable for a day — or only achievable for a minute,” said Matthew Judon.
He’s smart and can relate to younger players while still being tough and understanding the line that has to be drawn for the players. While I, for one, didn’t want to see Belichick leave, I am excited to see what Mayo can bring to the table as a first-time head coach.
Saturday Games:
Houston over Cleveland
Kansas City over Miami
Sunday Day Games:
Buffalo over Pittsburgh
Dallas over Green Bay
Detroit over LA Rams
Monday Night Football:
Tampa Bay over Philadelphia
Last Week 12—4
2023 Season 178—94
2022 Season: 178—92—2
2021 Season: 183—88—1
2020 Season: 169—86—1
2019 Season: 162—93—1
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“Haven’t seen this many cameras since we signed [Tim] Tebow.”
“Robert and I have, after a series of discussions, have mutually agreed to part ways and for me, this is a day of gratitude and celebration.”
“Start with Robert and his family. So much thanks for the opportunity to be head coach here for 24 years. It’s an amazing opportunity. I received tremendous support. We had a vision of building a winner, building a championship football team here and that’s exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations, the amount of success we were able to achieve together through a lot of hard work and the contributions of so many people. So, very proud of that, and I’ll always have those great memories. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
“And of course, after, you know, Robert, thanks to assistant coaches. I’ve had so many great coaches here. They’ve made my job so much easier. It’s a long list, but the amount of work, preparation, and diligence that they do, every one of them, and I say this about the players and the coaches, regardless of how long they were here, how many years they were here, how many years they coached, or what the position was, it was a great team effort, and everybody put everything they had into it, and that’s why we were successful.”
“For the coaches, the support staff, it’s an amazing staff here that’s supported me in every way. All the scouting, and then all the football support people from equipment, training, security, video, operations, and so forth, right on down the line, dining room, it’s all first class, it’s all extremely good.”
“Special thanks to Berj [Najarian] and Nancy [Meier]. They’ve been here since day one and made my life a lot easier, or I’ve made theirs a lot harder, however you want to look at it. But that’s a big shout-out to them. And, of course, a great deal of thanks and appreciation to the players. Players win games in the NFL, and I’ve been very, very fortunate to coach some of the greatest players that have ever played. Some of the greatest players have ever played for the Patriots; some of them are already in the Hall of Fame, and many more are going.
“But again, regardless of how long any of the players were or weren’t here, what their role was, or how many games they played, or even if they didn’t win championships, I respect the way the players come to work here on a daily basis, all of them, and I’ve coached well over a thousand. But their ability to work, prepare, train in the weight room, train their bodies, meet, and rehearse over and over again what we need to do things right to be successful to win. I have so much respect for all the players, and certainly we’ve had many that have been here for a long time and had great contributions, too many to name at this time. But great thanks to the players.”
“To the media, for you guys, I don’t know that anybody’s gotten more coverage than I have or we have in the past 24 years. I meet with you guys, a lot of respect for what you do. You’re our voice to the fans, even though we don’t always see eye-to-eye all the time. Most of the time, but not all the time. I do respect what you do.”
“And finally, to the fans, the fans here are amazing. I have so many memories of the fans, the sendoffs, the parades, the Sundays, whatever the situations are, the letters of support, seeing the fans away from here at a gas station or a grocery store or wherever you should bump into them. Patriots fans here, and not just in New England, but they extend nationally and even internationally as I’ve traveled. It’s amazing how far the arm reaches. We saw that this year in Germany. So appreciative of the fans for all the support they’ve given me, my family, and this football team. Just so many fond memories and thoughts that I think about the Patriots and I’ll always be a Patriot. I look forward to coming back here, but at this time, we’re going to move on. I look forward and I’m excited for the future, but always very, very appreciative of the opportunity here, the support here and Robert, what you’ve done for me. Thank you.”
Bill Belichick, at his goodbye press conference, his last as the Patriots’ head coach.
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“Talent sets the floor; Character sets the ceiling.” Bill Belichick
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