Patriots Jerod Mayo Reveals Method for Discouraging Fights During Eagles Joint Practice

The New England Patriots have always enjoyed the opportunity to participate in joint practices with other NFL teams during training camp.

Not only have the sessions provided invaluable learning opportunities to gain insight on alternate strategies, but they also allow the team to scout potential free agent targets in a more hands-on manner.

As such, it should come as no surprise that the Pats are hosting a joint practice session with the Philadelphia Eagles on the fields adjacent to Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, putting an official cap on training camp practices open to the public.

Though tensions have a tendency to run high during such mutual practices, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had an interesting twist on punitive retribution for those engaging in any potential skirmish with their Philadelphia opponents.

“If you are a starter and you fight, you are playing the entire preseason game [on Thursday against the Eagles,]” Mayo told reporters before the start of practice. “If you are a backup and you fight, you aren’t playing in the preseason game at all.”

While joint practices have typically been multi-day events in the past, Mayo was reportedly in favor of limiting the session to only a single practice, in part to limit fighting which can sometimes become prevalent on a second or third day.

Whether his pre-practice decree was made more in jest than fact remains to be seen.

During his two-plus decade tenure with the team, former head coach Bill Belichick had long been a proponent of holding joint practices. While many changes in both method and strategy have already been visible under Mayo, the Pats’ “new era” appears to include maintaining the tradition of testing their skills against an upcoming preseason or regular-season opponent.

Although New England is considered to be in the process of a rebuild, the Eagles are re-loading for another potential Super Bowl run. Philadelphia made headlines throughout the NFL landscape by signing free-agent running back Saquon Barkley to pair with quarterback Jordan Love. The Eagles also secured the services of two of the top-rated defensive backs (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean) in the 2024 NFL Draft class.

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Meanwhile, the Pats will be looking to continue their preseason success when hosting the Eagles for their second exhibition matchup on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.