Jerod Mayo hoping to usher in change, new era of success with Patriots

FOXBORO, Mass. — The news is old, at least by modern standards. Players have had plenty of time to digest it all. That Bill Belichick, for the first time in 25 years, isn’t the head coach of the New England Patriots. That Jerod Mayo is. That the whole thing is going to be, well … different.

But that was still the top takeaway from the first two days of the team’s offseason program. With a new coach, the Patriots were eligible to start their offseason earlier than most others and thus began their team-organized conditioning on Monday, the first step in a long process leading to September’s opener.

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That meant it was the first time for a lot of players to see the changes. The signs on the walls inside Gillette Stadium are different. Gone seem to be the signs proclaiming the importance of “doing your job.” The coaching staff has drastically changed. Matthew Slater is still hanging around — but without cleats or a helmet as part of his new advisory role. And, of course, the man at the front of the room is different for the first time in more than two decades.

“Things are different, for sure,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “They already are. There’s some things we can carry over, and there’s some things we can change. … Obviously, there was a lot of success here for a long time. We want to be a part of that next success. … We’re trying to be a part of that change and change things (from the way) it’s been the past few years.”

What’s left is a strange tightrope for the team to walk, one where the franchise wants to praise Belichick and appreciate all he did while also accepting the fact that it needs to change.

“I’m thankful for Bill,” safety Jabrill Peppers said. “That’s a guy I have a lot of admiration and respect for. … I’ll forever be indebted to Bill. But at the end of the day, it’s a business.”

The change that has occurred so far has been deliberate. For all the similarities between Belichick and Mayo — in the way they see the game and the way they were raised — what Mayo is trying to build is entirely different.

Belichick was all-encompassing with the Patriots. He wasn’t just the final decision-maker but often the only one with input on decisions. And, of course, he was unprecedentedly successful for a long time.

But that’s not how it has gone since Mayo took over. Collaboration is valued. Departments are encouraged to work together. We’re still months (and realistically years) from knowing whether that change is going to work or pay off in even a fraction of the success Belichick brought.

For now, Patriots players are enjoying the new vibe around the place and the sense that their voices will be heard more.

“Jerod has a lot of energy,” Henry said. “His persona and what he brings to a room — he kind of lights up a room. Obviously, he was a player. He’s been in our seats — literally been where we are and played — and also was a coach, too. He’s seen both sides of it. I think that from your leader, seeing both sides, understanding us and what we want and just maybe listening to us is good. He’s been exactly where we are. He knows what we want. He knows how things go. That player experience is just good for us.”

Free agency didn’t go exactly as planned for the Patriots. There weren’t many players lining up to sign with a team clearly in rebuilding mode, one that could last several years if they don’t hit on a quarterback with the No. 3 pick later this month.

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Instead, the Patriots prioritized extending their own players. Henry, Josh Uche, Mike Onwenu, Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings all re-signed. Henry did so when he was just a few days from becoming an unrestricted free agent, a curious decision after coming so close to seeing what awaited on the open market.

“I just wanted to be here,” Henry said. “I’m excited. I love this locker room. I love this area. I love this fan base. I love this organization. I’ll just keep reiterating it: I wanted to be a part of this. I didn’t like how last year went, how the last two years have been. And I want to be a part of that change.”

For the Patriots, that started Monday with some obvious changes. The walls look different and the sayings splattered on them are different. The whole place just feels … different.

This is the start of a new era in New England without Belichick. It’s going to take a while to determine whether Mayo’s approach yields success. But well before a new season begins, players have returned to the facility eager to see what the fresh leadership leads to.

“I’m excited for this new start,” Henry said. “I have a lot of pride in this organization. They brought me here three years ago now, and I’m just excited. I think it’s going to be cool to be a part of the new era here with Jerod.”

— The Beast is coming! Keep your eyes peeled for Dane Brugler’s annual guide to the NFL Draft, publishing Wednesday, April 10.

(Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)