Jerod Mayo further explains controversial ‘cross the white lines’ comment after Sunday's loss to Dolphins
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has not been afraid to blame himself for the team's struggles this season. And with a 3-9 record, he's been subject to a lot of criticism. Things were no different after Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins. However, one reporter asked Mayo at what point do the players […]
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has not been afraid to blame himself for the team's struggles this season. And with a 3-9 record, he's been subject to a lot of criticism.
Things were no different after Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins. However, one reporter asked Mayo at what point do the players have to take some of the blame as opposed to the coaching staff.
Because, as the reporter said, "You can only do so much."
Mayo answered honestly.
“Once those guys cross the white lines, there’s nothing I can do for them,” he said on Sunday. “There’s nothing any coach can do for them once they cross the white line. It’s my job to continue to prepare not only them but our coaches to go out here and play better football.”
After he said this, many people took the comments out of context, claiming that Mayo wasn't willing to take responsibility.
But it was actually the opposite. And the head coach further clarified his comments on Monday morning.
“You know, I’ve always said in the media, even when I was a player – oh, I should say going back to when I was a coach in ‘19 when I first started – is that, once you cross the white lines, like, it’s your game,” Mayo said. “There’s nothing I can do – like, I try to give you the tools, you have to go out there with high awareness and execute what we’re trying to do.
“I’ve always said that, and if we would’ve won the game, it looks like a compliment. We lose the game, now it looks like a slap in the face. But if you were to ask any of those players, I say that all the time.”
He's not wrong.
The coaching staff works with these players day in and day out. But when they are on the field, the players are the ones in control of how they perform. The coaching staff does what they can to get them ready.
If they aren't prepared, that's on the coaches. But the players have to take responsibility for repeat mistakes, especially when they are being addressed.