Jerod Mayo discussed Patriots’ win, Drake Maye’s status, and response to ‘soft’ comments

Mayo was also asked about Bill Belichick's commentary.

After enduring a difficult week — in which he received blowback over calling his team “soft” following the loss to the Jaguars in London — Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters on Monday that while he was happy with his team’s subsequent win, plenty of work remains.

“I’m very proud of just the way the guys responded,” Mayo said during his Monday press conference. “In saying that, you watch the film, there were definitely still plays that we left out there.”

The Patriots pulled off a 25-22 comeback against the Jets, finally notching a second win in the 2024 season and simultaneously sinking New York to equal standing at 2-6 in the basement of the AFC East.

During his weekly interview with WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” Mayo also reflected on the previous week’s media cycle. Following the defeat in London (and his postgame comments about having a “soft” football team), Mayo later tried to clarify what he meant.

Flashing forward to Monday, Mayo added some commentary about his approach with the media, and the importance of allowing himself space to change his own mind.

“Since when has walking back comments ever been a big deal? For me though, situations change,” said Mayo. “I would always say, I always reserve the right to change my mind. No matter what we’re talking about. Who’s starting? Who’s not starting? I always reserve that right.

“We talk about transparency, which I’ve tried to be with all of [the media]. To me, transparency is what I want you to see. I’m not gonna say everything that is under the curtain. No. But, at the same time, the relationship with the media I think is important.”

One of the notable responses in the last week to Mayo’s initial charge about his team being “soft” came from former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who publicly disagreed with his former middle linebacker. Mayo was asked if he was surprised that Belichick would be “so quick” to criticize his successor.

“Look, I learned a lot from coach,” he said in response. “I learned a lot on the field, off the field, all those things. In saying that, I have to do what I believe in. And that’s what it comes down to.”

Mayo also took time to respond to the accusations that players had violated curfew when the team was in London.

“Guys being out in London, simply not true,” Mayo said later in the WEEI interview. “Those stories continue to come out where — it’s just not true. So I’m not sure where it’s coming from, but everyone has their sources, again working in the media I understand how that works, but it’s simply not true.”

“I’m saying this: We did not have people out in London,” Mayo later added when asked directly about players missing curfew.

On the subject of Drake Maye, who exited Sunday’s win with a concussion in the first half, Mayo provided a brief update.

“At this time,” Mayo told reporters, “Drake is in the NFL concussion protocol, so I’m not going to get too much into that as far as Drake questions.”

He did acknowledge that he wasn’t initially expecting that Maye would have to leave the game, noting that the Patriots’ rookie stayed in until the drive was over and continued to make some positive plays.

“I was surprised when [Patriots trainer Jim Whelan] told me he had to go to the medical tent because he threw a couple of good balls afterward, and I thought he was still pretty sharp in those regards. But obviously, it’s above my pay grade as far as pulling him out of the game and putting him in the protocol.”

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.