Message to Bill Belichick: People Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones...
Mark Brown. Getty Images.Eight games into the 2024 season, the New England Patriots, with first-year head coach Jerod Mayo pacing the sidelines and backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett under center, came from behind to beat the Jets 25-22 at home, scoring the winning touchdown with just over 20 seconds remaining in the game, improving to 2-6. Even with Drake Maye listed as their starter, the Patriots entered the game as seven-point underdogs.
In 2023, the Patriots, coached by Bill Belichick, the same guy who won six Super Bowls with New England, were also 2-6 after eight games.
Last week, Belichick took shots at Mayo for his comment about his team playing "soft" in their 32-16 loss to the Jaguars in week seven. He was quick to say his top-rated defense in '23 consisted of the same players currently on the field in '24, insinuating that the first-year head coach was the problem, not his players. Mayo's '24 defense is much different than Belichick's '23 defense.
A quick look at the numbers tells a different story when comparing the Patriots teams from '23 and '24.
After eight games, the '23 Patriots defense had allowed 208 points. After eight games, the '24 Patriots defense has allowed 197 points.
Mayo's defense +11
In 2023, Belichick's Patriots scored 141 points in their first eight games. Mayo's 2024 Patriots have scored 124 points in their first eight games.
Belichick's (Bill O'Brien) offense +17
In points for, minus points against, Belichick's '23 Patriots had a points differential of -67 after eight games. Mayo's '24 Patriots come in at -73.
Belichick's points differential +6
Jerod Mayo is 38 years old. He and his wife Chantel Rostant Mayo (39), have four children and celebrated 17 years of marriage in July of '24.
Bill Belichick is 72, and his current girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, is 24. They met on a plane in 2021 and just recently announced their relationship…
Mayo's age +34
Belichick didn't talk much during post-game pressers when he was the Patriots' head coach, but recently, he has had a lot to say about the man who replaced him. Despite his 4-13 last-place finish in 2023, his last season in New England, and potentially his final appearance as a head coach in the NFL, Belichick is bitter towards owner Robert Kraft and Kraft's choice of new head coach.
In 2000, Belichick's first year as head coach in New England, he finished 5-11 with eight-year veteran Drew Bledsoe under center. Rookie Tom Brady began the season as a fourth-string quarterback behind Bledsoe and backups John Friesz and Michael Bishop. By the end of the season, Brady had moved up to number two on the depth chart.
Belichick was 29-38 post-Brady. Brady was 32-18 post-Belichick with one Super Bowl win (his seventh) and a Super Bowl MVP (his fifth).
If you stick to the numbers when comparing Belichick's final season in New England to Mayo's first, after eight games, they're pretty close. Belichick really doesn't have much of an advantage over Mayo, his first-round pick in 2008 (10th overall), a linebacker for eight years ('08-'15) and team captain for seven.
Lest we not forget, Mayo was named 2008 AP DROY/PFWA DROY, 2010 All-Pro MLB, and to two Pro Bowls. In 2019, Mayo became Belichick's linebackers coach, and in five seasons in that capacity, the Patriots had top-10 defenses in four of those years.
Belichick's 2023 Patriots didn't win their third game until after losing five in a row and were 2-10 at the time. We'll have to wait and see what the 2024 Patriots do the rest of the way to make further comparisons…
In his final game as Patriots head coach, Belichick lost to the Jets, 17-3, at home, ending the Patriots' 15-game winning streak against the Jets dating back to 2015. It was also Belichick's 165th regular-season loss and 178th overall, both tying records for most in NFL history.
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones…
Here's a little Jerod Mayo for your viewing pleasure. Mayo was so well-liked by Bill that his teammates nicknamed him Jerod Belichick. How quickly things can change…
