FOXBORO — Patriots captain Ja’Whaun Bentley was considered one of a handful of gamers to attend Jerod Mayo’s introductory press convention Wednesday.
Speaking with reporters afterward, Bentley left no room for interpretation about how the locker room feels about Mayo’s promotion.
“We’re hyped for this whole thing,” he stated.
Bentley, a third-year captain, has performed most of his profession underneath Mayo. He entered the league as a fifth-round decide in 2018, a 12 months earlier than Mayo rejoined the group as a place coach. Since then, Mayo has grown into the unofficial chief of the protection, typically main conferences and creating sport plans with fellow linebackers coach Steve Belichick. Once information of Bill Belichick’s departure made waves final Thursday, Bentley thought Mayo was the most effective and most evident candidate to interchange him.
“We’re glad to see the right thing happened. The right guy got the job,” Bentley added. “Having Jerod step up into that position, it’s not really surprising or too shocking for us.”
Bentley watched Mayo’s press convention from the again of the room with veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, the elder statesman of the Patriots’ secondary. Jones piloted a airplane from his native Georgia early Wednesday and landed in Norwood so he may attend. Both gamers shared that a lot of what Mayo informed reporters Wednesday have been phrases and concepts he’s repeatedly shared in crew conferences.
“In the meeting rooms, he’d always say, ‘Hey, this is your guys’ defense. I’ll give you this canvas and you paint it on there,’ ” Jones stated. “He just has an understanding of players. He hasn’t been far removed from being a player himself, so he definitely has that perspective.”
Quarterback Mac Jones, exterior linebacker Josh Uche and lengthy snapper Joe Cardona have been additionally current. Several members of the Patriots’ entrance workplace, together with director of participant personnel Matt Groh, director of scouting Eliot Wolf and director of professional scouting Steve Cargile, joined them.
Source: www.bostonherald.com