Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo addresses the media on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Pats from the Past.
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Happy New Year. Before I start, you know, I just found out, you know, what's going on in the city of New Orleans. Just want to make sure that you offer condolences to all those that are affected. Obviously, it's a very unfortunate thing that happened. Kind of puts things in perspective, you know, lives being changed like that, and just want them to know that both me, the team and the organization definitely offer our heartfelt condolences. All right, So you know, this game looks the last game of the season, and you know the guy. You know. My message to the guys was we want to finish off the season strong, you know, and try to build some momentum. Uh going into the off season. I would say, yeah, the guys are, they're ready to go. They're ready to go. We'll see how practice goes today. Obviously, I'm sure the question will come up, you know, do you want to see certain players like absolutely, And I would say players are healthy, they'll be ready to go now as far as you know how much they play, how much they don't like. I've never been a part of a team as a player or as a coach going into a game not wanting to win, and it's not going to change today. So uh, that's that's my message to the team.
Prob what can you tell us about the conditions Drake?
And also you expect him to start up.
You're going to talk to Drake here in the second. Drake's healthy, he'll be up practice today and we'll see how it goes this week. Another guy who had left, he's still in the protocol. So I'm not gonna I don't want to get too far down that line.
We'll see how it goes this week, right, to Drake what factors will be a play when deciding whether he starts Sunday.
Yeah, my thing, you know if you talk to Drake, which you will hear soon, but he's a competitor, he wants to play, and look, he's still developing, so he'll be ready to go.
So if he wants to play, will he start?
Drake is our starting quarterback if he's healthy and ready to go as we go through this week of practice, and he'll play.
Grog.
You said that you want to make sure that you're winning the game, but also mentioned earlier that you want young players to get opportunities. How much of an opportunity is this game to get those guys more chances?
Yeah, we'll have to see how the game goes. Yes, guy, what went into that decision? Just trying to give a veteran player what you've seen over you know it's not just Yanick, but give him an opportunity to catch on with the team that will be in the postseason. What about and I was just saying this about he's did a great job. He was great in the meeting rooms, he was you know, great out there in the practice field. A veteran that brought a lot to the table and wish him nothing but the best.
What about Rod For a guy like Drake, you've made it this far in the season, there's only one game, But what about the risk of injury now with just this one game?
Yeah, I mean that's that's any position. I know oftentimes we focus on the quarterback spot, but that's part of playing football is.
Saying that the team, if you weren't really shipping over here than.
Everyone else the team. Look the team. Everyone that's healthy will be ready to play and are expected to play.
You know what, I think it was one of the drafts to the idea of su did you getting some time? I know you know what happening with Kobe.
But.
I would say it's still all up in there, all three quarterbacks as we've carried two, and the emergency quarterback will be ready to go.
You what do you see from since you got in the building and orderly made.
To Yeah, just you know, I think you know, his ability to read coverages has definitely improved. Look, he has all the physical tools. I would say the commander of the huddle has also improved, and he's done a good job on the show teams throughout the week. So you talk about laying a foundation.
Which portions of.
The foundation do you feel our most solidly laid so far in terms of from the last January later.
I'm not going to get into, like, you know, the different position groups, but I would think that we offer I mean cultural yeah, yeah, going back to look, these guys have come in here every week, and I know our record is what it is, but they come in here every single week during a hard season, ready to work, going out there trying to get better. And I think that's huge. That's part of it.
What if you've learned about Drake to this point and what more.
Could you learn from I feel like we you know, we talk about this often. I would just say his ability to change the page and learn from his mistakes.
Any reflections on this being the last week of the season and just what this journey has been like for you so far.
Yeah, I think it's important to remember where you are in the journey and you know, and no one's happy with our record or anything like that, but understanding where you are and the journey is definitely important.
Better a coach are you today?
If you work for the time that you.
Do this process for me? Like you know, first year doing anything, they're going to be growing pains and things like that, and you have to you have to learn from those mistakes and move forward and do the things that you did well early in this season and carry them over to the next season.
I Stan Campbell before when doing thing about the blob seas.
Time to see you here first year. What stands out to you about how the people to.
Chraines have Well, you know it takes time, but I would say, you know, you look at those guys now, both from a roster and a coaching perspective, like from his first year to a second year to his third year, all those things there was change and you know he got it nailed down and those guys are playing well. And you know there are other examples about that. You know, other examples, but you know, right now, I'm focused on the bills for the most part, and that's what we're gonna do. What you said earlier that uh, you know, we'll love to see how the week goes. Pretty making a decisions about forty dollars. We will have to happen during the week to change anything.
From what you've done in the past.
I mean, it's it's been this way the whole year. You know, you go out there and have a good week of practice, always competing, and you have an opportunity in the game. And it's not about how many snaps you play a game. To me, it's the value and the quality of those snaps that are the most important thing. As we evaluate what have you learned about yourself this year? Be as serious. This is the same question, you know, just being resilient. You know, just trying to be resilient hasn't gone the way that any of us have wanted to go. And it's a huge, huge, huge piece of it. You know, Steve Jobs, I think you know you had a quote where you have winning seasons or winning years and then you have character building years, and this has been one of those character building years that I'll always remember.
And you said, I'm sorry that you hear the thing that they're some of the chance. Does that affect you?
No? No, For me, it's all about the guys in the locker room. And look, they're disappointed in the record. I understand that. And look, even with you guys in the media, I understand what your job is and that's okay. My thing is it's always about the team and it's about winning football games. Were you concerned or worried about that this could be your last game on Sundays? For me, it's all about just focusing on the Bills, trying to win that game or if you.
Have to do all the bolls are considering you played them just.
Two weeks ago.
Yeah, I mean, look, you always want to prepare as if it's the first time you played them, Like we know those guys, and you know, you go back and look at that game the first half versus the second half, and you know, we were in it for quite some time until the second half. It was just it got out of control. So definitely still doing all of our homework. We're still game planning, approaching it like a like a normal week.
Last cool leagues have Elliott already went in ownership, heaving input on the approach when it comes to who will play Sunday.
I'm in Look, I'm in constant communication with Elliott. I'm in constant communication with ownership. And again, I've never been a part of a team as a player or a coach where we haven't gone out there and try to win the game. So it's those conversations haven't happened than when you're trying to figure out why things are going around. How do you parse through what the result of coaching, player execution, talent. Yeah, that's that's part of it. Like you have to evaluate everything. You have to evaluate the from processing throughout the week. You have to evaluate the coaches. I have to evaluate myself and have others evaluate me. Everyone's under look. When you have a season like this, you gotta evaluate everything all right, appreciate it happening.
New Year.
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But where the Patriots are concerned, Let's just get one thing done and let's get it done right and then we can worry about versatility. Am I lying to anybody here? Let's just get one thing done. Let's get one thing done right, and then we can move along. That's kind of my biggest thing.
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