New Jerod Mayo highlight video up from Mike Vaz. Mayo’s speed really was something else, didn’t always ensure he made the play but he was always around the ball. If I had to pick the best play of his career it would have to be the game-sealing interception against the Redskins in 2011 that’s at the 3:14 mark.
jerod mayo
Jerod Mayo Announces Retirement
Jerod Mayo takes the field as a rookie.
From this Instagram post it looks like Jerod Mayo is retiring, a move not entirely unexpected. At the very least the Patriots weren’t picking up his option and now this now clears almost $7 million dollars from the Pats’ cap number.
First, a quick look back at Mayo’s career. He was taken 10th overall in the 2008 draft and immediately stepped into a starter’s role in an aging defense that was about to be completely turned over. Mayo was the constant during that turnover and missed just five games in his first five years.
There wasn’t a lot of talent around Mayo from 2008-2011 and with his excellent speed he wracked up 341 tackles in those four years. By all accounts he was a consummate Patriot, and despite the injuries of the last few years, was still always around the team, being a leader and helping in any way he could.
Still, I think there was always something missing with Mayo and that was his big play ability. He just never got over the hump to be a player who made critical plays in critical moments. For his career in the regular season he had just three interceptions, eight forced fumbles and 11 sacks. In eight career playoff games he had just one forced fumble. No interceptions. No sacks.
I remember a lengthy pre-game chat between me and Erik Frenz discussing how Mayo was a “tackling machine” but he just wasn’t the impact player you really wanted him to be.
Of course you can’t always judge a player by their stats, but there’s some truth in there. Still, Mayo did a ton for the Patriots and I shudder to think to what depths the defense of 2008-2011 would’ve sunk to without Jerod Mayo making the calls and cleaning up the trash.
Best wishes to Mayo and his family as he turns to the next chapter, whatever that may be.
For the Patriots, they get some much-needed cap relief and can start to formulate a plan on who’s getting paid next. Mayo’s departure certainly reinforces the need for a middle linebacker, but it will be interesting to see what kind of linebacker the Pats’ target. Collins and Hightower are seemingly best used on the outside, along the line of scrimmage in the regular package, with Collins sliding off the line in sub-packages.
The Pats need a dedicated run-stopper in the middle, but also someone with the kind of range to drop into the flat. This doesn’t have to be a three-down linebacker, but he does need to be better than Jonathan Freeny was in 2015.
Reworked contract will keep Jerod Mayo with Patriots
Reworked contract will keep Jerod Mayo with Patriots
Somewhat expected news this offseason that Mayo would either get his contract reworked after passing a physical or a new extension. I never realistically believed they would part ways with Mayo, he’s like BB’s favorite son. Here’s hoping he can return to form after a serious torn patellar injury. I would be very excited to see how Hightower/Collins and Mayo all come together now that all three are so experienced and versatile.
Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots
https://www.patspropaganda.com/designingsport-jerod-mayo-new-england-patriots/
I have a love/hate relationship with being on MNF. No football Sunday, but Monday isn’t quite as brutal.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/i-have-a-lovehate-relationship-with-being-on-mnf/
Patriots Training Camp Preview: Linebacker
The Patriots lost two linebackers this offseason – Brandon Spikes and Dane Fletcher, and though they didn’t make a splashy addition to replace them this offseason, they still have a promising starting trio remaining. The headline is that defensive signal caller Jerod Mayo returns from a pectoral tear that ended his 2013 season early.
But the depth behind Mayo, Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins is still largely an unknown. With a collection of rookie and veteran free agents, the Pats could find themselves with some new faces at the linebacker position making an impact.
Here’s our preview of the linebackers.
We have to start with Mayo, whose return to the lineup should be a big boost, especially for the pass defense. Mayo makes all the calls and is the leader of the defense. It was surprising the Pats defense was able to hold the fort as well as they did without their captain, but selling out on the pass hurt their run defense.
Dont’a Hightower was somewhat overwhelmed early on after Mayo went down, but late in the season Hightower settled in and started making plays.
Speaking of making plays, Jamie Collins was all over the place against the Colts in the divisional round. Collins had shown some potential in the regular season, but burst onto the scene in the playoffs.
Almost everyone is projecting Collins to be a breakout star of 2014. At this point it would almost be more surprising if he wasn’t playing almost every down next to Mayo.
The bigger question is how the Collins-Mayo-Hightower trio will fit together schematically. Mayo had been playing the Will linebacker spot since the 2011 switch to a 4-3 base.
While Hightower seems the best fit to slide to Brandon Spikes’ vacated middle linebacker spot, there were rumors from OTAs that it was Mayo manning the middle with Collins on the weakside and Hightower on the strongside.
How well will the Pats will defend runs up the middle with that personnel? Mayo is at his best in space, and the move would certainly help the pass defense up the seam, but can they hold up without a downhill physical presence like Spikes inside?
Regardless, the Pats have a trio of talented linebackers to start, but behind them are where the real questions come.
The Pats signed veteran James Anderson, a passing down specialist. He should fill some of Dane Fletcher’s former responsibilities and is good insurance for Mayo.
Second-year player Steve Beauharnais was one of the many Rutgers rookies last season and showed some promise in the 2013 preseason. He will be under the microscope in training camp and could have an inside track for a bigger role in 2013.
Chris White and Josh Hill are experienced NFL special teamers and there’s always a spot for at least one of those kind of guys.
Ja’Gared Davis and Darius Fleming have pass rush skills and the Pats always have a need for those kind of guys. With some thin depth at defensive end and designated pass rusher, one of them could find a roster spot if they’re able to consistently get after quarterbacks this summer.
Cameron Gordon, Deontae Skinner and Taylor McCuller all have an uphill battle but there always seems to be an undrafted rookie linebacker like Fletcher or Gary Guyton who make the roster.
Projection:
It will be interesting to see how Mayo, Collins and Hightower are split up situationally. Our best guess is that Mayo and Collins rarely leave the field. Hightower has some pass rush potential and could be used as a blitzer as well.
Behind them there’s a lot of question marks and there’s plenty of room for a couple unknowns to emerge and make an impact.
It will be an interesting area to focus on this summer.
Previously:
JEROD MAYO NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (by Michael Indresano)
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)