Patriots Gives Potential Bill Belichick Successor Glowing Endorsement After what happened.
If Bill Belichick’s time with the New England Patriots is up, one of the head coach’s greatest players wants Jerod Mayo to replace him. Ty Law, who won three Super Bowls on Belichick’s watch during a Hall of Fame career, believes Mayo’s own experience as a player, along with his business acumen, make him the right man to rebuild the Patriots.
Speaking on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” (h/t MassLive.com’s Lauren Campbell), Law said Mayo “has the respect. And you have to relate to — look at what Antonio Pierce is doing with the Raiders. They rally around him. Look at how the (Patriots’) defense is playing. They’re down, they’re banged up, and he’s got those boys playing. They’re being competitive even though they don’t have very many pieces. You have to give credit somewhere, and Jerod Mayo is that guy. He has the respect of not only players, but his peers, and he played the game.”
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Law also backed Mayo, who is currently inside linebackers coach on Belichick’s staff, to purge the playing roster and coaching contingent: “Let me tell you something: If Jerod Mayo was the head coach, he wouldn’t have a problem firing the whole damn staff. That’s who he is as a person. He’s gonna look at it from a business standpoint. It’s not gonna be about making friends or anything like that. Jerod Mayo is the type of guy — he was a businessman before he got into coaching. He made some good business moves out there. He was in that world. So, he’s gonna look at it from a strategic and a business standpoint. I don’t think just because he’s coached with you that he’s gonna be obligated to give you a job.”
Those words are a glowing endorsement of Mayo, who has emerged as a “logical successor” for Belichick. Yet, the rising assistant has already had to deal with criticism of his credentials and coaching style.
Ty Law’s Right About Players Respecting Jerod Mayo
If you don’t think Mayo is the right choice to replace Belichick, it’s worth considering what the assistant’s players say about him. Players like defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., who credited Mayo with preparing the unit to frustrate Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.
Wise called the gameplan a “Big testament to (Jerod) Mayo. He gets us ready every day,” per NBCS Boston’s Phil Perry.
Wise isn’t the only member of the New England defense impressed with Mayo’s style of coaching. Linebacker Mack Wilson, a versatile hidden gem who’s broken out this season, credited Mayo for helping develop him in an increased role as a pass-rusher.
Wilson appreciated Mayo admitting a mistake and using him in more creative ways this season, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
