Jerod Mayo’s most recent flub at the podium came on Sunday, when the Patriots first-year head coach was asked about his team’s inability to pick up one yard on two plays to keep a rare red zone drive alive in the fourth quarter.
“Did you consider running Drake [Maye] in that situation - that it’s a short yardage situation, you feel like he can run?” Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston asked Mayo during Sunday’s postgame press conference, referencing the consecutive stops on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 by Arizona from the Cardinals 4 yard line in his team’s 30-17 loss in Week 15.
“Uh, that’s - you said it, I didn’t,” Mayo responded flatly, quickly moving on to the next question.
Patriots fans and media alike took this as a direct shot at offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, seeing this as Mayo implying that he would have called a designed run for his mobile rookie QB.
So when it came time for his weekly “Mayo Monday” appearance on The Greg Hill Show, the 38-year-old head coach was quick to walk it back - as he’s wont to do.
Whether he meant to take a shot at Van Pelt or not, it still begs the question of why there wasn’t a run play called for Maye in that scenario.
“Why not a sneak there?” asked WEEI’s Chris Curtis.
“We just tried to do what we thought was best for the team,” said Mayo. “We always - look, early in the season, we talked about the sneaks as well, and that was when Drake came out of the [concussion] protocol. We talked about sneaks, and then we, you know, it was off the table.
“Look, he’s a big strong kid. Can he quarterback sneak? Absolutely. We just didn’t call it in that moment.”
WEEI’s Greg Hill followed up, asking Mayo, “But when you say - I think it’s important to clarify. When you say, ‘best for the team,’ not necessarily best option to win. But are you trying to protect the quarterback in that situation?”
“Best for the team, and we’re always trying to win,” said Mayo. “So I don’t wanna go down that one.”
Even though Mayo said he didn’t want to elaborate further on that topic, Curtis dug back in later in the interview.
“So the reason Drake didn’t sneak is because of the concussion issue?” he asked.
“No, it’s not,” said Mayo. “That was a conversation that we had in the past.”
“So he’s clear and all set?” Curtis clarified. “He could have snuck?”
“Yeah, he’s out of concussion protocol,” said Mayo. “He can quarterback sneak. And again - look, it’s on me.”
This wasn’t the only time Mayo made a point to deflect blame from Van Pelt during his “Patriots Monday” interview.
“Is there no issue between you and Alex Van Pelt when it comes to philosophy and where you see the offense?” asked WEEI’s Jermaine Wiggins. “Whether it’s being conservative, aggressive, whatever it is. Are you guys on the same page?”
“100% on the same page,” said Mayo. “And I back Alex 100%.”
We’ll see if this full-throated support for the offensive coordinator has Mayo bringing Van Pelt back for a second season with the Patriots in 2025.
That is, of course, if Mayo is back for his sophomore season.