With the Patriots sitting at 1-5, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo has taken a not-so-subtle swipe at his New England predecessor Bill Belichick on Monday.
Belichick departed the team after 24 seasons earlier this year, following an incredible six Super Bowl wins but also a 4-13 record in his final season.
And Mayo apparently believes the former New England coach and de facto GM did not set him up for success.
Asked on the Greg Hill Show why the roster was in such bad shape entering this offseason, he replied: ‘You tell me.’
That response led to some laughter on the show but continues some public tension between Mayo and his old boss.
Jerod Mayo suggested that Bill Belichick did not 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 has one and we’ll have to wait and see what it is,’ he continued on The Pat McAfee Show.
‘I don’t know but I’d say there are a number of issues there. One is: they can’t move the ball and can’t score.
Since then, Mayo has turned to rookie quarterback Drake Maye, giving the third overall pick his first start this past 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 (to go along with two interceptions as well).
Mayo, who played under Belichick for eight seasons, rose the ranks inside the organization after being named linebackers coach in 2019.
He’ll hope that Maye can lead the team to its second win this weekend at the similarly struggling Jaguars.