Jerod Mayo: Is It Getting Weird?

nothumb · Oct 29, 2015

I think Mayo has looked a step or two slow when he's been in, it's no surprise he's gotten passed. I expect he will handle it like a pro and try to keep working into shape in case he's needed later on. He's in no position to claim he's ready to start on a contending team elsewhere.

Stitch01 · Oct 29, 2015

I don't think anyone would trade for him given his contract, the base salary is still 4.5 mill right?

He's on the team this year because the way his old contract was structured he was pretty hard to cut. The restructured deal made more sense even if he was very unlikely to come back to close to his old self.

I expect he's inactive once the team gets healthier. Hopefully next year he bounces back wherever he ends up. Was a solid player here and a leader from all accounts. Ideally he stays healthy and can leave here with a ring (I know he has one, but one from where he was a member of the 53 man roster come season end)

Not sure there's more money elsewhere either he's a vet min guy for 2016

Rook05 · Oct 30, 2015

My guess is that this is the end of the line for him on the field, but he'll likely be on the coaching staff next year.

Kenny F'ing Powers · Oct 30, 2015

Rook05 said:
My guess is that this is the end of the line for him on the field, but he'll likely be on the coaching staff next year.

He's not that old.

Mayo wasn't running downhill before getting injured, and if the coverage calls for anything but a soft zone, he's toast.

I think Mayo had a great young career, but became very overrated with the hopes he would fill some big shoes. He was never as good as people thought, although he flashed some potential and is a great locker room presence.

amarshal2 · Oct 30, 2015

I think some of this end of his career stuff is premature. He's still coming off injury and could pick up speed later this year.

As for his peak, he was never nearly as good as Hightower is right now.

Super Nomario · Oct 30, 2015

I do think it's weird. Like, why was he even active the past couple weeks if he's going to play so little? He only played 23 snaps when Hightower was out (Freeny 47), and he's not contributing on special teams. Wouldn't they rather have had Tavon Wilson available for tonight, since at least he plays special teams?

(Other roster mysteries: Wilson has only been active three games this season. There are eight safeties on the roster. Why is he still here?)

j44thor · Oct 30, 2015

I think injuries have simply sapped Mayo. He was never as good on the field as some thought but I'm going to guess he is far more important during the week between games than we will never know. Consider him Bruschi post stroke at this point. Still has more knowledge about the game than just about anyone on the D but simply can't make the plays.

Given there is no cap savings in cutting him you maximize what value you can get out of him.

veritas · Oct 30, 2015

amarshal2 said:
I think some of this end of his career stuff is premature. He's still coming off injury and could pick up speed later this year.

As for his peak, he was never nearly as good as Hightower is right now.

They're different players, but I'm not sure I agree that he was never nearly as good as Hightower is right now, and I'm a huge Hightower fan. Mayo was very very good in his prime.

Hightower is a more dynamic player, but peak Mayo definitely had better instincts vs the run, better ability to play in traffic, and a motor as good as anyone. Not to mention his leadership.

You also have to consider that the Patriots defense has changed a lot over the past few years. Five years ago they were more of a passive, read and react, two gap 3-4 defense, now they're much more aggressive and penetrating up front. Mayo always seemed to make a ton of good plays but not so many great plays. But that's what he was asked to do.

Kenny F'ing Powers · Oct 30, 2015

veritas said:
They're different players, but I'm not sure I agree that he was never nearly as good as Hightower is right now, and I'm a huge Hightower fan. Mayo was very very good in his prime.

Hightower is a more dynamic player, but peak Mayo definitely had better instincts vs the run, better ability to play in traffic, and a motor as good as anyone. Not to mention his leadership.

You also have to consider that the Patriots defense has changed a lot over the past few years. Five years ago they were more of a passive, read and react, two gap 3-4 defense, now they're much more aggressive and penetrating up front. Mayo always seemed to make a ton of good plays but not so many great plays. But that's what he was asked to do.

This is right.

Mayo was an ideal 3-4 2-gap LB. he is used to sitting g on his heels waiting for the play to come to him. This team hasn't played to his strengths for a few years.

Reardon's Beard · Oct 30, 2015

He's been through the grind and is one of the senior statesmen of this team at this point. I do not find it surprising, but I think he's absolutely a guy you want to get into better shape over the course of the season who can step in when needed. Institutional memory is invaluable with this team, maybe more than any other, and he's certainly got that down.

Shelterdog · Oct 30, 2015

I wonder if there's any hope for him to regain any quickness or speed this year--at this point he's pretty useless.

wutang112878 · Oct 30, 2015

Throughout his career I think a lot of us had been hoping he'd take 'the leap' where he would start making some real playmaker type plays and generate some turnovers. Not an unrealistic expectation considering he was drafted 10th overall, even if that draft was weak. If we forget about draft position and expectations, what we got was another Ted Johnson, a physical guy who was great against the run, with better coverage skills and excellent leadership qualities.

With that in mind, thinking about the here and now... Last I remember seeing of him, he was getting pushed back somewhat and was a step slower to the ball. His coverage has never been great but I dont think he was getting torched in that regard either. But with Freeny in there we havent been exposed whatsoever and its unclear how much he will improve but he is improving and I dont think thats the case with Mayo. So to me the demotion seems perfectly logical.

Given the past few weeks, I think we are certainly at the point that we have to question why he is even active. The safety that comes with him being active and providing some run stuffing ability is a good thing to have, but I dont think he is playing on special teams whatsoever and I do believe we'd get more value activating another special teamer over keeping him active as a safety net. One thing that is virtually a certainty at this point is that he is gone after this season and thats too bad.

joe dokes · Oct 30, 2015

To answer the thread title, I'd say no. Mayo knows what's going on and why he isn't playing. As for why he's active......I trust BB here. My memory could be way way off, but while BB is perfectly comfortable *cutting* (or trading away) any veteran, I can't recall him deactivating one. Especially one who he clearly holds in high regard. Maybe in its own "a football team is a thing I dont really understand" kind of way, the apparent grace with which he's handling his fall is *exactly* why he is active every week. It's an uncommon player who can fall off the depth chart and still be a team leader. Would it be surprising if BB sees value in using a roster spot for that guy? I understand why, for example dressing another OL makes sense, but OTOH, Belichick.

JohnnyK · Oct 31, 2015

While I don't necessarily disagree with this, the only healthy inactives against the Dolphins were Tavon Wilson and Dewey McDonald, and the latter had only joined the team a few days prior. Everyone else was on the injury report.

So I don't think it is out of the question that Mayo might be inactive at some point. Especially since he can still be on the sidelines even when inactive, right?

doctormoist · Oct 31, 2015

A ruptured patellar tendon isn't the easiest thing to come back from. You're immobilized for 3 months, then you have painful rehab to regain motion, then you have to build up your atrophied quad. I'm amazed he's made it back to playing shape, but he's clearly lost something.

Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt · Oct 31, 2015

The PFW guys threw out an interesting take the other day: Would we feel differently about Mayo so far if he hadn't surprised all of us by practicing and playing so early into the off-season? If Mayo had been on PUP or just came back more slowly - as I suspect a lot of us thought might be the case - would we (and our expectations) be more accepting of the level he's currently playing at? Would we be thinking, say, that BB is just bringing him along slowly and hoping that a more substantial recovery will come about in the second half of the season?

GeorgeCostanza · Oct 31, 2015

Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt said:
The PFW guys threw out an interesting take the other day: Would we feel differently about Mayo so far if he hadn't surprised all of us by practicing and playing so early into the off-season? If Mayo had been on PUP or just came back more slowly - as I suspect a lot of us thought might be the case - would we (and our expectations) be more accepting of the level he's currently playing at? Would we be thinking, say, that BB is just bringing him along slowly and hoping that a more substantial recovery will come about in the second half of the season?

I'm largely indifferent to how he's played this year thanks to some terrific depth at the position, and terrific performance by Hightower. Plus, as others have said, he seems to b a solid locker room guy/leader so he still brings something of value to the team. That said he's gone at the end of the year.

Van Everyman · Oct 31, 2015

doctormoist said:
A ruptured patellar tendon isn't the easiest thing to come back from. You're immobilized for 3 months, then you have painful rehab to regain motion, then you have to build up your atrophied quad. I'm amazed he's made it back to playing shape, but he's clearly lost something.

Different situation obviously. But you could've said the same thing about Amendola after he tore his groin. It took 1 1/2 seasons before he was back in prime condition and regained his quickness. And in the interim you had a ton of the same stories you're hearing here – that he was no longer the same player, that he'd lost a step, that he'd been passed on the depth chart anyway, and that his contract was the only thing keeping the team from cutting him.

None of which is to suggest that Mayo will be a pro bowler anytime soon. But it certainly doesn't mean he's certainly gone or done either.

Jerod Mayo: Is It Getting Weird?

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