Jerod Mayo replaced Bill Belichick as Patriots coach, but who will have last say in personnel decisions?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Wolf well-positioned: One of many subsequent crucial steps for the Patriots after coach Invoice Belichick’s exit can be of their personnel division, clarifying roles and in the end figuring out who runs the present after Belichick had last say for the previous twenty years. With the No. 3 total decide, that is arguably the group’s most essential draft since choosing quarterback Drew Bledsoe first total in 1993.

Some key factors from group and league sources:

In 30 years of possession, Robert Kraft and Jonathan Kraft have by no means employed a basic supervisor. Bobby Grier and Scott Pioli held the title of vp of participant personnel, whereas Nick Caserio and Matt Groh assumed the of director of participant personnel title. That historical past means that any rent is unlikely to be a GM who’s given authority to run the complete soccer operation. As a substitute, the Krafts can be on the lookout for somebody to supervise personnel and work in live performance with new head coach Jerod Mayo.

Director of scouting Eliot Wolf, the son of Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame govt Ron Wolf, is seen by some within the group as well-positioned to be the selection for extra accountability and to probably lead personnel efforts. He was an assistant basic supervisor for the Browns (2018-19) earlier than becoming a member of New England. The previous 4 years have, in some respects, been an prolonged job interview for him. The Krafts’ familiarity with him probably works in his favor.

Interviews with exterior candidates are nonetheless in play. However with the present workers remaining in place no less than by way of the draft — headlined by Wolf, director of participant personnel Matt Groh, senior personnel advisor Pat Stewart, director of professional scouting Steve Cargile and school scouting coordinator Camren Williams — the Krafts appear to be taking the view that there isn’t any have to rush.

2. Missed alternative?: As sure because the Krafts are about Mayo — and their hiring of previous head coaches Belichick and Pete Carroll warrants respect — some executives and coaches across the NFL are stunned they did not conduct interviews with different candidates, if for nothing else than to assemble data that might profit the group sooner or later. What was the push? That is one among a number of questions the Krafts determine to be requested, when Mayo is formally launched Wednesday, about their decision-making course of (going again to final offseason after they put succession plans in Mayo’s contract) and the way some group sources believed the domino impact of that call resulted in a extra divided teaching workers.

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3. Mayo’s philosophy: Mayo performed biweekly reporter interviews over the course of the season, which offered perception into his teaching philosophy and concentrate on “conceptual studying.” His insights are well timed to revisit after he was named the group’s fifteenth head coach on Friday:

“We at all times speak about educating them suppose, not what to suppose. ‘It is your protection, have possession, accountability, listed below are the keys.'”

“Scheme is one factor, however I actually consider it is in regards to the gamers. Our X’s and O’s are very essentially sound, but it surely’s about having good gamers.”

“I like to inform the gamers that after they get on the sphere, it is a clean canvas. So go fill it up, however simply be sure you hold it on the canvas.”

“I really like teaching, however I do not do it to pay the payments. I do it due to the love of the sport and the love of growing gamers.”

4. Mayo steps fourth: One other side that makes Mayo’s rent distinctive — because the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, he turns into simply the fourth head coach to have performed for his group’s earlier coach with the identical group. In response to Elias Sports activities Bureau, the others are the Vikings’ Mike Tice in 2002 (underneath Dennis Inexperienced), Washington’s Jack Pardee in 1978 (underneath George Allen) and Inexperienced Bay’s Bart Starr in 1975 (underneath Dan Devine).

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5. Goodbye, dais: Mayo prefers to sit down amongst these he’s addressing quite than communicate to them from behind a dais, so every day media briefings (and maybe even group conferences) could have a notably completely different really feel. Wednesday’s official introduction of Mayo because the fifteenth head coach in franchise historical past might present the primary glimpse of this.

6. They mentioned it: “He is aware of deliver the younger guys alongside and get them tailored and in control with the older guys, so you may all see one imaginative and prescient. That is one of many issues he likes to say: ‘I do not care if I am proper otherwise you’re proper, I need us to see the identical image.'” — Patriots exterior linebacker Matthew Judon, on Mayo, throughout an look Friday on ESPN’s NFL Stay.

7. Roll name: Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was amongst these current within the group auditorium Thursday when Kraft and Belichick appeared collectively to announce their parting of how. Amongst others seated within the again: defensive position coach DeMarcus Covington, cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, director of soccer/head coach administration Berj Najarian, director of scouting administration Nancy Meier, video archivist Jimmy Dee and group sports activities dietician Ted Harper. Talking with out assistance from written notes, Belichick, who mentioned he did not wish to go away anybody out, particularly highlighted Najarian and Meier as those that had been with him “since Day 1.”

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8. Worldwide plans? After “internet hosting” a recreation in Frankfurt, Germany in the course of the 2023 season, the Patriots might have their passports punched once more in 2024 — this time as a “highway” group. The NFL introduced Thursday that the Bears (London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) and Jaguars (London’s Wembley Stadium) are among the many groups internet hosting worldwide video games — and each are highway opponents for New England in 2024.

9. Do you know? — Half I: If Belichick coaches a brand new group in 2024, he could be the primary head coach to start out a season with a brand new group in his 70s.

10. Do you know? — Half II: Mayo turns into the 242nd former participant to change into an NFL head coach because the 1970 merger. Of that group, 134 have been offensive gamers and 108 have been defensive gamers, in accordance with Elias. Mayo is the primary former Patriots participant to function the group’s head coach.