Mayo not satisfied
FOXBOROUGH -- If you think Patriots inside linebacker Jerod Mayo spent the off-season polishing his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, you'd be sadly mistaken.
Since the Patriots season ended following a 13-0 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 28, Mayo has been home just once. He has spent the rest of his time in Foxborough working out and watching film.
Just like the Patriots couldn't get Mayo off the field his rookie season, they can't get him out of Gillette Stadium this off-season.
"I don't think I'll ever be satisfied," said Mayo, who led the Patriots in tackles last season, credited by coaches with 139. "I'll always feel like I can get better. I play with a chip on my shoulders and that's how I live my life as well, wanting to prove the doubters wrong. You'll have to force me out of here. Lock the doors or something."
The 23-year-old Mayo is hoping to make an even bigger impact this season than he did as a rookie, when he was a starter at inside linebacker from Day One.
The scary thought for Patriots' opponents is that Mayo said he didn't really fully grasp the Patriots defensive scheme last season. He said he was thinking, not reacting, and using his athleticism to cover up mistakes.
"To be honest, I feel like I can get so much better," Mayo said. "Last year I felt like the season I had was ok, but I felt like I could have made so many more plays, big plays especially. I've just been watching the games from last year and [working] in the weight room, just trying to get better and learn from these vets."
Making more "big plays," is something Mayo seems intent on doing in 2009. He was well aware of the fact that he had only one forced fumble and one fumble recovery last year, as well as no interceptions. With a greater understanding of the Patriots' 3-4 defense, he plans on making more of those game-changing plays this season.
"Yeah, most definitely," he said. "Playing linebacker those are the types of things that you're expected to do -- make interceptions, force fumbles and things like that. That's one aspect of my game that I'm looking forward to improving this year. The expectations I have for myself are to do those things, and that's what I expect to do this year. "
While the outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense are put in position to be pass rushers and not the inside linebackers, Mayo also said he'll be prepared to blitz more this season.
What's he's not prepared to do is rest on his rookie season. It's just not in his DNA.
"I spend most of my time here," said Mayo. "Even in college I did the same thing. They would have to give me, 'Get out of here. Get out of the weight room. Give your body a rest.' It hasn't really changed that much."
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Oh mother of god, I'm so glad they drafted him.
i love this dude
i think i have a man-crush
Belichick: You can forget it! You're out!
Mayo: Don't you do it! Don't! You... I got nowhere else to go! I got nowhere else to g... I got nothin' else.
That's how you do it.
They need more guys like him.
I don't know about you, but this excites the hell out of me. This is the old attitude of the Patriots, during their reign. We need everyone to act like this.
Woo, 9 days.
music to my ears...
I read the headline and thought "here we go again, another player not satisfied with his contract." Glad to read otherwise. Tell Chris to watch his headlines for those of us who are faint of heart.
i was at the Pats' Hall of Fame a week or so ago and one of the guys working there said that Mayo and Bruschi are inseparable. Bruschi apparently said as good a player as he is, he's a better person. I love this guy.
I have a feeling Mayo is just going to get better and better. This guy wants to win badly.
Love it.
It would be funny if he literally didn't have a house or an apartment or anything, he just went from the weight room to the training room, slept on a cot in the corner of the film room or something. Belichick comes in around 6 am, wakes up Mayo, kicks him out, he wanders over to the weight room, starts working out.
i think i'm in love
Man-crush no. 2 reporting in
Before reading this, there was no question in my mind that Jerod Mayo would be one of the all-time Patriots greats.
After reading this, I believe he is going to be one of the all-time NFL greats for a 3-4 inside linebacker.
You can't teach that kind of work ethic or love of the game. And considering how good he is already... my god.
I am so glad we drafted this kid.
Good Job Mayo. How many others are there with him?
I think the PATs found a new leader on defense. Thats one reason they don't need Bruschi and Vrabel, 2 guys currently past their prime but more for their leadership. Mayo is a born leader, leader of the young backerhood...Mayo, Woods, Guyton, Redd, Crable...
I can just hear a quarterback berating his offensive linemen in the huddle after a sack -- "Dammit, I told you to hold the mayo."
I'm officially sporting some wood..
Go Mayo!
i hope this guy turns into a ray lewis style beast of a man linebacker! our defense needs to be out for blood every down of this coming season. smash mouth homeland defense. i want us to be feared and top all the defensive stat charts. then come the playoffs, take it to another level and when we get to the superbowl, hopefully we dont freeze up again ;\ MIAMI HERE WE COME
Let us just hope he plays like Ray Lewis but isn't the mouth piece or knife slayer he is off of the field!! Still think he got away with murder!!
When I read this: "He said he was thinking, not reacting, and using his athleticism to cover up mistakes. "....man, I chuckled. If that's true, we're in for a highlight reel.
Davo
i second that emotion- man-crush #3
He's going to be the best Middle LB the Pats have had in many many years. He's going to be a stud.
One special over achieving player winding down his career nurturing and apparently mentoring a potential monster at ILB.
Two peas in a pod and we are ever so fortunate...
Mayo talked about a tranfer out of TN after a low 2nd year. This guy refuses to be part of a losing team. I'm sure the red zone / 3rd and long stats are killing him. What he said about working all the time at TN from what i've heard is TRUE. Him and Ayers are friends and keep in touch. I know he's pulling for him.
If he is half the player he was in the overtime game against the Jets, the league is in trouble. His performance that day was menacing.
Holy Crap!
How can we make, like, 52 clones of this dude?!??
Man-crush #4....5? Whatever, put me on the list.
And to Rob in Central...you mean when Belichick wakes up on the couch in his offices, and rolls into the film room...
One thing, to me, that is hard to improve once they get to the Pro level is tackling, and this kid is one who I can't remember seeing miss a tackle, or get driven back. He gets his hands on a ball carrier, they go down...fast and hard.
Oh God! I just ruined my pants...
We should have drafted Gholston
once mayo starts getting those picks and sacks damn....my favorite mayo moment last year was the 4th and short vs the jets thursday night game when thomas jones runs up to the line and jerod mayo slams him back.
#27 Reason.
It may be one of NBB's new football innovation to field a team of 52 ILBs ? And knowing BB, he might be able to coach up one of them to throw a football.
I'm really amazed with this kid. Bruschi was an idol to me, and it seems he is nurturing his successor, wich, the way things are going, will be even more successfull than he was.
Mayo has Patriots DNA in his vains. And have a new fan here in Brazil. Mayo's work ethic and talent will round the world!
man crush #5!!
this guy is a BEAST!!
he owes me some new pants!
hey Mike - could you please help Chris out with his choice of Tiltles?
I realize he wants to grab peoples attention, but most coming here are doing it to read everything posted anyway - we don't need to suffer near heart-failure with stuff like this...he made it sound like Jerod was ready to pull a dis-gruntled player fiasco & be a hold-out...or something
Why isn't EVERY NFL player doing this? You know, instead of running down pedestrians or shooting themselves at night clubs?
This kid GETS it.
Yeah Steve, it definately is nice to see someone who appreciates the opportunity they've been given and also just someone in general who is dedicated to perfecting his or her craft. I understand that people will do crazy things when they're given a ton of money and told that they're the greatest thing since sliced bread...but still. It's nice to see someone buck the trend and just be a good guy who wants to be the best he can be.
Where can I get my 51 throwback jersey?
This cat's the truth.
If you watched Mayo highlights before he was drafted and watched him as a Pat you'd see that the only game playing for the Pats that he looked like he did in college was the Jets game, flashing to the ball, stopping people dead. For whatever reason, he got to turn his game loose in that Jets game - but he looked like the Jets game all the time in college. Now if he can grow into looking like that all the time in the pros that's what we've got to look forward to. Who to learn better from how to be a true pro than Tedy, a pro on and off the field. As usual Tedy is working for the betterment of the Pats.
Geez ,Mayo reminds of of a young Tom Bundchen until he got soft
Two words: CONTRACT EXTENSION
Let's lock this kid up till he's 40!
A Scene in June...
BB: "Alright, Mayo--you've worked hard this off-season; why don't you take a day off and go home to see your family."
Mayo: "Uh...can't do that, coach."
BB: "What? Why not?"
Mayo: "Well....I forgot where they live, coach."
BB: "Oh. Alright then, Just head back to the film room."
He's the most valuable defensive player not named Wilfork.
yo i think we gonna have one of the if not the best OLB in the leauge if he shows up what he is talking damn i got chills reading this and cant wait to see him in action just cruching and killin guys out there go PATS!!!!! 19-0 this year all the way make it 4 time super bowl champs we gonna catch n pass u pitt!!! hahahaha PATRIOTS #1
just call him andre tippett jr.
Hopefully if the Gods smile upon us ( The Patriots ) this season with no injuries, the league better watch out.
I seen this kid in Tenn. and he is a playmaker.I hope we can get more kids like this . we need #4. go PATS.
Mayo is a great linebacker and has alot of potential and will be the leader of the Lb front for the pats Great draft pick and with leight booden and shaun springs in the secondary the pats defense easily becomes 3rd in the nfl nxt to the steelers and ravens
It's refreshing seeing someone as young as Mayo acting like the mature professional that he is being paid (WELL) to be. Thank you Mr. Mayo for being respectful and dedicated to your team and fans.
all i can say is man crush number 6....wow imagine him and larunitis together....this is going to be outstanding!
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