In the final years of Bill Belichick’s run with the Patriots, much was made about the apparently fracturing relationship between the coach and Robert Kraft. It appears Belichick’s replacement has reopened the lines of communication with the owner.
New Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo is finding his footing leading a football team. He was widely regarded as an up-and-coming head coaching candidate, but has made plenty of rookie mistakes so far -- mostly in terms of making public comments that he has to quickly walk back.
Things with Mayo are a considerable departure from how things were with Belichick, which one might expect when a new head coach is 34 years his predecessor’s junior. Among the changes is that Mayo, he said Monday on The Greg Hill Show, talks to Kraft daily.
“Every day. Every day,” Mayo said. “I will say this, and I’ve said this before, I’m appreciative of the opportunity to let me deal with the football stuff. But he’s managed people, he’s led people, he continues to lead people, and any time I have a question about that, about situations -- it’s not always unique to sports, it’s about relationships -- he’s a great resource.”
Obviously, the dynamics with Mayo and Kraft are going to be inherently different than how things were with Belichick and the owner. Even if Mayo is going to Kraft for guidance on things like relationships, it’s promising that things apparently aren’t frosty between owner and coach anymore.