Jerod Mayo Sends Subtle Message About Patriots Ownership After Win

The Patriots were finally able to move on from a loooooooong offseason Sunday.

New England captured a relatively shocking victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, helping ease some of the overwhelming negativity that surrounded them throughout the summer.

Rhamondre Stevenson can run the hell out of the ball. New England might have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. Jerod Mayo, DeMarcus Covington, Alex Van Pelt and Jeremy Springer don’t look to be in over their heads.

The Patriots couldn’t directly answer any of the questions that folks suddenly have about Robert Kraft’s ownership, though, which might be why Mayo subtly sent a message following his first win.

“It was special. I just want to thank the Kraft family — Robert, Johnathan, Danny, Josh, all those guys — just for the opportunity and for not really getting in the middle of anything that we do football-wise,” Mayo said, per team-provided video. “They’ve pretty much turned the keys over to (Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf) and myself and the rest of the staff. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity, and I’m glad that we came in here today and represented the Krafts in a good light.”

Kraft has come under fire for his frugality, as the Patriots are dead last in cash spending over the last decade. Mayo made it known that the lack of spending isn’t because of some mandate by the 83-year-old, though.

Mayo and Wolf believe they have the reigns, and that Kraft is every bit as committed to winning in the future as he was in the past.