The New England Patriots (I had to check the email address and letterhead three times to make sure it wasn't a fake), sent out the following email tonight:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2023
PATRIOTS TO EXTEND JEROD MAYO; WILL BEGIN INTERVIEWING FOR AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots and Head Coach Bill Belichick have begun contract extension discussions with Jerod Mayo that would keep him with the team long-term. In addition, the team will begin interviewing for offensive coordinator candidates beginning next week.
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It's not hyperbole to say this is an unprecedented press release from the Patriots during the tenure of Belichick. In fact, he has gone out of his way to say the team doesn't comment on contracts or negotiations, and Belichick has always done whatever he wants to with his coaching staff and he doesn't really care what anyone has to say about that.
This is a complete 180.
This has Robert Kraft's fingerprints all over it, and should be viewed as an example of how ownership has not and is not happy with the current state of affairs with the team.
From my understanding, Mayo has agreed to a contract extension and they are just hammering out the final details. He should also be viewed as the on-staff successor to Belichick, the same way Josh McDaniels was when he turned down the Colts. Of course, that didn't really amount to much for McDaniels and he eventually left to become a head coach somewhere else. But that was the thinking at the time — a person on staff who was capable of handling the duties should Belichick leave abruptly for some reason (even health-related, you never know). Does mean he's necessarily the guy — and I'm sure, like McDaniels, the s-word was not discussed — but he's the guy on hand for now.
Announcing the offensive coordinator position being open ... some of that has to do with the NFL now mandating teams to advertise those positions, and encouraging minorities to apply (Rooney Rule, which we discussed previously). But that doesn't explain everything.
Other thoughts on this, and what it means ...
BSJ ANALYSIS
Ok, so here are my thoughts for BSJ members after talking to some team and league sources:
- The Patriots will say this is just them getting ahead of Mayo's lined-up interviews, and more about league protocols and such, but I don't believe any of that for a second.
- I think this was the Krafts, after contemplating their meeting with Belichick, putting their foot down a bit.
- It would have been a TERRIBLE look for the Patriots if Mayo left to be defensive coordinator elsewhere. I don't know how this is going to change things on the staff, but I would at least anticipate Mayo having an additional title.
- I think Kraft made himself known on personnel going out the door too much for no good reason.
- I think addressing the offensive coaching was paramount and they wanted to keep Belichick on a tighter schedule. I think he and the coaches were supposed to be on vacation next week. Someone thought otherwise.
- This is an admission that Belichick's offensive plans were a complete disaster for everyone on offense.
- As I've said many times before, Matt Patricia was never going to be Belichick's successor. Never.
- I don't think this means Cam Achord is back in charge of special teams ... I think the Patriots are just dealing with one fire at a time.
- Rooney Rule provisions to keep in mind:
- Clubs must interview at least two diverse candidates from the Career Development Advisory Panel list, or a diverse candidate not currently employed by the club;
- Clubs must continue to consider multiple diverse candidates.
- Clubs must maintain complete records and provide them to the league upon the Commissioner’s request.
- If the final decision maker is involved from the beginning of the hiring process, they must be involved through the conclusion of the process.
- People are stunned around the league, and puzzled. "What are they (bleeping) doing over there? This is something Woody Johnson would put out."
- I will say, some will view this as some level of dysfunction — and may scare off some candidates — but I view this very much as a positive. Keeping Mayo is great news, and hiring an actual offensive coordinator — with the title! — is definitely a step in the right direction. I don't really care if Kraft intervened to make this happen — it's not how you got there, but that you got there. This has the Patriots headed back in a positive direction. They were going nowhere until this was made clear.
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