‘I feel pretty good about the way that we’re going’: What Jerod Mayo said of the ‘mutiny’ report surrounding Patriots
"I haven't heard that."
Jerod Mayo doesn’t believe that the Patriots’ locker room is nearing a mutiny, but he certainly senses some disappointment among the team amid their 1-3 start.
New England’s head coach denied a Patriots.com report that there are issues within the locker room when asked about the matter on Friday, saying he hadn’t heard about the report.
“My focus is definitely on the Dolphins, 100 percent, and the guys in the locker room,” Mayo told reporters. “I haven’t heard that. That’s journalism for you. I’m not sure.
“Like I said, I haven’t heard that,” Mayo added. “I try not to pay attention to that stuff. You’ve got to ask him.”
In an episode of the “Catch 22” podcast on Thursday, Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar said he sensed the team was “teetering on a mutiny” when he was in the locker room following their loss to the 49ers in Week 4. Later Thursday, the episode of the podcast was reportedly scrubbed from the team’s YouTube channel and the comment was removed from the episode on other podcast platforms, causing more attention to the situation.
“I was in that locker room on Sunday, the defense is mad at the defense, the offense is mad at the offense,” Lazar said.
Sunday’s loss to the 49ers marked the third straight game the Patriots dropped. After winning their season-opener and losing in overtime in Week 2, the Patriots have lost by a combined 38 points over the last two weeks.
Mayo admitted that there is some frustration with the recent results, making an analogy to describe the situation.
“It’s always frustrating when you’re not winning,” Mayo said. “The guys put a lot of work in, and everyone wants to try to find a solution right now while we’re going through this transition. People are definitely frustrated, and that’s a normal human response. I feel pretty good about the way that we’re going.
“I used an analogy this morning. It’s almost like flying through the clouds, but you have to use the instruments until you get to clear skies. When I took this job, I knew the lumps would come. It’s part of the transition.”
There have been some notable signs of frustration with Patriots players recently. Wide receiver DeMario Douglas notably gave demonstrative looks when he wasn’t targeted on certain plays against the 49ers. He later apologized, but defensive tackle Davon Godchaux called out players on defense for playing selfishly in an interview with WEEI earlier in the week.
Despite a growing sense of frustration with how the season has gone, players still seem to have Mayo’s back. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai told WEEI that he doesn’t sense there’s a mutiny nearing while a “trusted defensive veteran” told MassLive’s Karen Guregian that the idea Mayo has lost the team is “way false.”
“That’s bull [expletive]!” an unnamed Patriots offensive player told Guregian.
As the players seem to have Mayo’s back, the rookie head coach is relying on them to be open with him and is preaching growth.
“I have an open-door policy,” Mayo said. “I definitely lean on the captains of the team. I lean on those guys to let me know what the vibe of the team is. I’m always around, too. I always talk to guys, and they walk into my office and we have those conversations.
“Once again, it’s a process and we’re still growing. Our leaders are growing. The middle class is growing. The rookies are growing. I like the way that it’s going, even though the record may not reflect it at this current time.”
Week 5 provides the Patriots a good opportunity to get rid of their frustrations. They host a 1-3 Dolphins team that’s last in the league in scoring with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sidelined. Miami has also yet to lead in a game this season, kicking a game-winning field goal at the buzzer in its only win this year.
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