FOXBOROUGH - The critique of Jerod Mayo's performance this year has heightened recently, prompting calls for his job or defense of why the first-year head coach deserves at least another year.
Over the weekend, plugged-in national reporter Dianna Russini had this to say.
“While there hasn’t been a public vote of confidence for the head coach from the Kraft family, Patriots leadership is standing by Mayo,” she wrote. “Just as discussions about the next NFL hiring cycles heat up, team owner Robert Kraft has privately assured those close to him that he’s committed to giving his first-year head coach the time and resources he needs to grow into the role.
“The organization understood from the start that this wouldn’t be seamless. Transitioning into a high-pressure role like this, especially following the legendary (Bill) Belichick, comes with a steep learning curve, and mistakes were expected. The Krafts want to allow Mayo the opportunity to find his voice, establish his footing, and develop into the leader they believe he can be. The franchise knows they have their quarterback in Drake Maye, and his coach will be given a runway.”
During his Wednesday morning press conference, I asked Mayo about the report and if ownership had communicated that to him (for clarification, as seen above, the report didn't state that it was directly told to Mayo).
“I’m not sure where that story came from,” he said. “I have multiple conversations on a daily basis with ownership, and they’ve always been supportive.”
I followed up and said, "You've often talked about getting better in year two. Has it been assured to you that you have it (year two)?"
"No, no. Again, for me this week, my focus is on this game. The Bills, here today,” Mayo said. “Things that happen at the end of the season, I can’t control those things. So it’s all about the Bills."
I told him I appreciated the answer but that, with all the speculation about his future, it didn't quiet the noise.
"I’m not trying to squash anything. I’m trying to let you know where my focus is — and it’s on the Bills. I understand the question.”
From interactions I've had with people in the building or in the know, I have the impression that Mayo remains on solid ground with the Krafts. However, his response to my line of questioning leaves some wiggle room about whether he has that same impression. Regardless, Mayo certainly had players come to his defense today, starting with the quarterback.
"He's figuring it out, and we're behind him and backing him," said Drake Maye. "We trust the plan he's got for us, and we trust what he says in the team meeting rooms and all his little sayings that he has. We believe in it, and we're bought into it.
"I think the results are coming," continued Maye. "Everybody wishes they were now, and I think we're kind of striving for that, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. But we're coming, and the winning is coming in the near future."
"He's doing a great job," said Deatrich Wise. "He's always bringing high energy. Always does a good job of coaching guys while critiquing them. And motivating them at the same time. ... What I think he's doing, I think, will work out in the future."
"We rocking with him," added Antonio Gibson. "When things go bad, you don't want to just bail on him. I feel like everybody has, you know, a rough start or a slump somewhere. You can say, me, I had a rough start. Those guys didn't give up on me. So, you know, I wouldn't want anybody to give up on him as well. It takes time."
APOLOGIES
In the immediate aftermath of the loss Sunday in Arizona, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte expressed dissatisfaction with the game plan and the play calling, saying, "We knew they were gonna play man (coverage) the whole game. But I feel it’s disrespectful when they go, man, first quarter, you know? So I feel like we need to be better at attacking that instead of being shy about it."
That comment wasn't well-received here, but more importantly, inside the building. To his credit, Boutte apologized today.
“Nobody likes losing. It was frustration I had lingering from the game into the post-game interview. I feel like I was wrong for what I said,” he said. “It wasn’t the right way to handle it, go about it. But like I said, that was my fault, and I take accountability for it.”
This isn't the first time Boutte has had to retract his comments. After the Texans' week six loss, he was also critical, saying the team wasn't aggressive enough. Boutte had just two catches (on five targets) for 19 yards on Sunday and a killer deflection that led to an interception. He has just six receptions over the last three weeks.