Coach Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots have made it clear that they plan on spending some money this offseason but it doesn’t sound the like franchise tag is where they want to be burning it.
Speaking to the media via NESN.com, Mayo laid out some of the drawbacks that he feels the tag has. Admitting that while it’s an option, the Pats want to keep their top players in New England for the long-term.
“That’s always an option, but at the same time with guys like that, you want those guys to be happy,” he explained. “You want them to be here for the long term, so that’s the plan.”
Adding, “If those guys stay — obviously they’ve been raised here, so if they stay they can help push the culture forward. … They’ve been in the facility. … Those guys are excited to go through the process, and I think it’s important for those guys to go through the process, but at the end of the day hopefully they come back to New England.”
The Patriots are about to embark on the first rebuild they’ve really had since Robert Kraft bought the team. New England said goodbye to Bill Belichick this offseason and has yet to find the type of success that they’ve expected ever since Tom Brady walked out the door.
Jerod Mayo brings some fresh energy to a franchise dying for new blood. If he can lead the Pats from the sideline as well as he did as a player, it sounds like they’ll be just fine.