BREAKING: Patriots coach Jerod Mayo reveals plans to stop training camp fights
Fighting throughout training camp is unavoidable, unless you play for Jerod Mayo.
Mayo is just the New England Patriots’ second head coach in the twenty-first century, succeeding Bill Belichick after 24 seasons.
The 10th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft was promoted after five years as the team’s inside linebackers coach, following an eight-year career that includes two Pro Bowls, an All-Pro selection, and a Super Bowl.
So, Mayo understands exactly what it takes to be successful. He did play for the man who came before him during his NFL career, and he later coached alongside him.
With conflicts rising throughout camp—the Giants and Lions were involved in multiple violent scrums during their joint sessions last week—Mayo believes he has a solution.
“My message to the players: If you get in a fight out here, if you’re a starter, you’re going to play the whole preseason game,” Mayo told the crowd. “If you don’t start, you won’t play at all. That’s kind of my perspective on it.”
Talk about a fair game. Today’s starters rarely want to play a single snap in the preseason, let alone the entire game. Guys seeking for work need all the experience they can obtain, and not acquiring any can be damaging.
DK Metcalf reportedly swung a helmet at one of his teammates during a brawl at Seahawks practice.
Many players would argue that there is nothing that can be done to prevent fights and that, in some cases, they can even strengthen team bonds. However, Mayo clearly believes they do no good.
