Ty Law doesn’t think Jerod Mayo is coaching for his job over the last four games of the New England Patriots' season.
Would it be nice to win some of the team’s last four games? Sure. But the Hall of Famer says it doesn’t really matter whether the Patriots win or not. He thinks team chairman Robert Kraft hired Mayo for the long haul, not for results in 2024.
"When I think Mr. Kraft went in, of course he wanted better. The expectations were more than what we got," Law said on WEEI’s Greg Hill Show. “But I think that he didn’t have expectations as far as, like, we’re gonna go to the playoffs or be a Super Bowl contender when he made the hire. You’ve got to give him a chance."
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The Patriots are a young, talent-strapped team coached by a rookie head coach -- and they’ve looked like it. The results have led to discontent among fans in New England.
However, Law compared Mayo’s rookie season to that of a rookie quarterback. Sometimes, it takes time to get the pieces around a young talent and let them thrive. Sometimes, you have the right guy in place, but it takes some time for them to reach their potential.
Law thinks that Kraft is smart enough not to pull the plug too early.
“I think Mr. Kraft is a smart enough businessman to give him time. How much time? I don’t know, but he’s definitely secure for next season.”
I don’t think it matters what happens at this point.
Mayo’s 3-14 campaign hasn’t been an easy one for fans to watch. The team has played competitive, but has folded in close games. During that stretch, coachable mistakes have been aplenty.
But is that a talent issue or a coaching issue? If it’s coaching, is it something that will improve with time? Either way, Law thinks that Kraft needs to give Mayo a chance to rebuild the team and get the people he wants in place.
“I think the first year isn’t a great indication of what he could possibly do until he gets his own guys in there,” Law said. “He has to open up – he’s got to back up the Brinks truck. He’s got to spend some money.“
Law is one of the greatest players in Patriots history. A first-round pick in 1995, Law spent 10 seasons in New England, winning three Super Bowl titles. He went on to play for the Jets, Chiefs and Broncos before retiring after the 2009 season.
A five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection, Law is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.