With the Patriots sitting at 1-5, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo took a not-so-subtle swipe at his New England predecessor Bill Belichick on Monday.
Belichick left the team after 24 seasons earlier this year, following an incredible six Super Bowl victories but also a 4-13 record in his final season.
And Mayo apparently believes the former New England coach and de facto general manager didn’t set him up for success.
When asked on the Greg Hill Show why the roster was in such bad shape entering this offseason, he responded, “You tell me.”
That response got some laughs on the show, but continues some public tension between Mayo and his former boss.
Jerod Mayo suggested Bill Belichick didn’t set him up for success in New England
Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways in January after 24 seasons together
After the team’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers last month, Belichick said, “I have no idea what the plan is” in New England.
“If Mayo says he has a plan, then I guess he does and we’ll just have to wait and see what it is,” he continued on The Pat McAfee Show.
‘I don’t know, but I would say there are a number of problems there. One is: they can’t move the ball and they can’t score.
Mayo has since turned to rookie quarterback Drake Maye, giving the third overall pick his first start last weekend against the Texans.
Quarterback Drake Maye had a promising first start last weekend against the Houston Texans.
New England fell 41-21 in that game, but Maye had a promising debut as he threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns (plus two interceptions as well).
Mayo, who played under Belichick for eight seasons, rose through the ranks within the organization after being named linebackers coach in 2019.
He hopes Maye can lead the team to its second win this weekend against the also-struggling Jaguars.