CINCINNATI — Let the file display that Jerod Mayo’s first postgame information convention as a head mentor within the NFL used to be additionally his first postgame information convention as a victorious head mentor within the NFL. But if he stood there within the modest interview room at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon following the Brandnew England Patriots’ 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, he satisfied no person when he mentioned, “I try not to get too high, I try not to get too low.”
For any one within the room who would possibly have had problem summoning the phrases to give an explanation for simply how off-the-mark Mayo used to be with that commentary, thank heavens the Patriots have quarterback Jacoby Brissett of their make use of. For when Brissett used to be summoned in order an research of Mayo’s postgame feelings, he answered: “Excited, man. It’s hard to win in this league. He played in this league. He understands how hard it is, especially on the road, against a good opponent. What’s the word? Ecstatic? Elated? Any word you can think of that means overjoyed, he should be. It’s his first one.”
Excited. Ecstatic. Elated. Thrilled. Who knew the Patriots introduced a playbook and a booklet of “Brissett’s Thesaurus” to Cincinnati?
To be honest, Mayo additionally spoke a variety of phrases that conveyed his working out of the worth of what he and the Patriots achieved Sunday. He went as far as to say his crowd, his grandparents “and my Pop Warner coaches and all the people who instilled not only the X’s and O’s of football but also how to operate in life.” It’s additionally importance noting that Mayo delivered his postgame remarks at about 106 mph, suggesting a person very a lot stuck up within the hour.
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Sure, it used to be a heavy disillusioned for the Patriots to tumble the Bengals on their house ground, sending hundreds of orange-shirted Cincy fanatics out to the streets with purple faces. Sure, it used to be heavy that the Brandnew England protection did so just right a role of bottling up the Cincinnati passing sport that quarterback Joe Burrow spent many of the presen handing over not anything however pass-the-gravy passes. It used to be heavy that Christian Gonzalez used to be so gifted at shadowing Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase that it used to be dry to imagine Brandnew England’s second-year cornerback used to be misplaced for the 2023 season next simply 4 video games because of a labrum tear.
And, sure, the Patriots are 1-0. That’s essentially the most impressive side to Brandnew England’s victory over the Bengals, apart from that it isn’t. Mayo’s first victory as head mentor would possibly prove to pay long-term dividends for the Patriots in that it has taken the group precisely 60 mins of soccer to distance itself from the looming presence of Invoice Belichick, who occurs to be the best mentor in NFL historical past. Oh, form negative mistake: Belichick isn’t going anyplace. He’s nice-looking a lot a 24/7 tv character now, along with ladling out hints he’s nonetheless eager about being a head mentor once more if any NFL proprietor in the market involves the realization that their underachieving workforce is only a Corridor of Reputation-bound mentor clear of getting over the hump. And for individuals who reserve observe of this at house, it’s Belichick 333, Mayo 1 at the All-Era Victories Scoreboard.
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However know this: Had the Patriots misplaced this opener, because the oddsmakers informed us they’d, it might had been the 0-1 Pats taking up Seattle in Age 2 at Gillette Stadium. A loss there and it’s the 0-2 Pats heading to the Meadowlands to play games the Jets. The controversy over precisely when, or if, Drake Maye will step in for Brissett as founding quarterback will proceed all season. Brandnew England’s offensive order will proceed to be a speaking level, although it used to be now not a subject matter towards the Bengals. However now not simplest is Mayo within the win column within the season opener, but additionally his gamers lavished such a lot proclaim on him next the sport that it’s sunlit they’re purchasing what he’s promoting. And it wasn’t simply the sport Mayo’s gamers have been speaking about, however the weeks, even months, eminent as much as that sport.
“Guys are excited, guys are happy,” middle David Andrews mentioned. “(They) put in a lot of work, from guys from the offseason on their own time to workouts to OTAs to training camp. And obviously a lot of work this week.”
Everybody contributes, everybody wins. pic.twitter.com/acOqLjmDv5
— Brandnew England Patriots (@Patriots) September 8, 2024
Brissett, the journeyman quarterback who contributed 15-of-24 passing for 121 yards to an offense that used to be highlighted via operating again Rhamondre Stevenson’s 120 speeding yards, mentioned he cried thrice ahead of the sport and that Mayo had one thing to do with that.
“I cried when I got to the stadium,” Brissett mentioned. “I cried when Mayo came up to me before the game, and he started laughing and said like, man, you’re about to win us a game, you’re about to ball out. I had never heard that from a coach and that meant a lot to me. And then I cried when I got on the field and we’re going out on offense.”
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Mayo contributed a dialogue he says he had with Stevenson previous within the 12 months.
“I challenged Rhamondre in the spring,” Mayo mentioned. “I said, ‘You don’t get a lot of love, a lot of hype.’ But I’ve always believed he’s one of the best running backs in the league, and when we signed him to the extension, there was no one happier than me because I know what he’s capable of and he showed that today.”
.@dreeday32 IS MOVING
: CBS pic.twitter.com/8om9AMZcXI
— Brandnew England Patriots (@Patriots) September 8, 2024
When you’re the sort who believes Sunday’s result used to be as a lot a fabricated from Cincinnati’s screw ups as what Brandnew England did proper, have at it. And anyway, it’s only one sport, only one victory.
However Mayo has his first Gatorade shower and a sport ball to place on his shelf. It’s his workforce now, simplest with out the gigantic shade.
(Picture: Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Pictures)