Socci's Notebook: Belichick, Kraft Praise Student & Teacher Jerod Mayo
By Bob Socci, 98.5 The Sports Hub
BOCA RATON, FLA (CBS) -- Five weeks after Jerod Mayo demurely disclosed his decision to "retire a Patriot" with an Instagram post, the only head coach he played for in eight NFL seasons honored him with a bold declaration.
"There have been very few players in my career that I've had the opportunity to coach that I'd say had more of an impact on the team than Jerod has from day one, which is unusual," Bill Belichick said Tuesday at the NFL owner's meetings. "I'm sure I learned a lot more from him than he did from me."
Which is saying a lot. Quite literally, coming from a man of few words for most of his 47 minutes at the AFC coaches' breakfast. And most meaningfully, considering Belichick's voluminous accomplishments over 41 years on NFL sidelines.
As the words of undisputedly one of the game's greatest teachers, it's essentially the highest praise Belichick can pay a player. Or in this case, an ex-player who joined the Patriots as the 10th overall pick in the 2008 draft, was a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and five-time team leader in tackles.
But as much as he taught his coach, Mayo learned on the job from his owner -- about far more than the game he played so well. Like with Belichick, he shared a rare employee-employer relationship with Robert Kraft.
"Jerod used to call me, 'Young Thunder Cat,'" a smiling Kraft recounted, taking time out of league committee meetings late Monday afternoon. "When he'd say that, he was always talking about business and how he can improve himself."
In becoming the heart and 'old' soul of New England's defense, Mayo's head filled with ideas for his second career.
"He's someone who will be a great success in the business world. He's ready to make a transition," Kraft said. "I wish him the best. He's got a wonderful family. He's a very special young man, and we're lucky to have had him in our system."
International Business
This week's agenda at the Boca Raton Resort & Club reportedly included discussions about the possibility of staging games in Germany (2017) and China (2018). With dates in London now annually on the league calendar and a Raiders-Texans encounter scheduled for Mexico City this November, both Kraft and Belichick were asked about the potential of the Patriots returning to foreign soil. New England has played twice in old England, most recently in 2012.
"If I were a betting man, I would think maybe we have a chance of going to London," Kraft said Monday during a post-press conference interview for the team's website. "Probably not this coming year, but maybe the year after."
"Should be interesting," Belichick added Tuesday morning. "Wherever they schedule them, we'll play them."
Bob Socci is the radio play-by-play voice of the New England Patriots. You can follow him on Twitter @BobSocci.