Mayo’s comments reminded Andrews of Bill Belichick.
Following an uncompetitive loss where the New England Patriots were flagged 13 total times, head coach Jerod Mayo took accountability for his team’s performance in his post game press conference.
The last question directed to the coach, however, asked at what point do the players themselves need to take accountability:
“I know it starts with you, but when do you players have to start looking at themselves? You can only do so much. When is on the players?”
Mayo’s answer drew plenty of criticism.
“Look, once those guys cross the white lines, there’s nothing I can do for them,” he responded. “There’s nothing any coach can do for them once they cross the white line. It’s my job to continue to prepare not only them but our coaches to go out here and play better football.”
On WEEI the following morning, Mayo explained it’s a message he’s told his players since serving as a linebackers coach in 2019. It’s one that is similar to what his predecessor, Bill Belichick, used to say, according to veteran David Andrews, who defended his head coach on The Quick Snap Podcast.
“That’s the truth though. Coaches can’t play the game. Bill always would say that stuff, too. Like, ‘I can’t play the game for you. I can’t do that.’ And there is some truth to that,” Andrews said. “There’s going to come points in games, as players, where something’s gonna be unscripted — they’re going to do a new blitz, the offense is going to have a new formation. Yeah, the coaches can prepare you and teach you all the rules, or whatever your adjustments may be, but you have to execute those.
“I’ve never gone into a game and been like, ‘Man the coaches failed us.’ They work hard, they put in so much time, really it’s always about us. It is about the players.”
Andrews and co-host/former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer went on to share stories of how Belichick would hold practice periods where coaches could not interfere — putting the emphasis on the players to get things right while on the field.
Both also made note of Mayo’s playing experience and how he’s been in those players shoes.
“Anybody who is critical of that comment clearly has never been a player or coach,” Hoyer said. “They don’t understand what he’s saying. They want to take it and spin it as he’s blaming the players. He’s not blaming the players.
“I always thought this — all you want from a coach is to prepare you the best that they can. And then for you to go out and execute whatever that preparation is. As a player, you have to take ownership of it.”
Andrews and Hoyer were not the only former Patriot players to back Mayo, as running back James White shared his support on Twitter/X — which drew a response from safety Devin McCourty seemingly in agreement. Current linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley also took to social media to shoot down those who criticized Mayo’s comments Sunday night.