Jerod Mayo Peels Back Curtain On Recent Talks With Patriots Ownership

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has always had a tremendous relationship with Robert Kraft, but the amount of losing they’ve already done together can put a strain on any relationship.

Mayo insists things are still simpatico, however, giving some insight into recent conversations in a sit down with NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran on Thursday.

“We speak all the time,” Mayo said of Robert and Jonathan Kraft. “Even outside of football, they have other businesses. All this stuff is about relationships. Coaching is about relationships, business is about relationships. And they’ve been an open book as far as, if I have a question on managing processes or leading people, they have been very open and honest with me on some of those things, and it’s going to make me a better coach going forward.”

New England’s brain trust typically meets following games, where the ownership side does exactly what you’d expect — they question decisions made by the first-year coach

“We always debrief the games,” Mayo said. “They’re very — they just want to know at least my thought process, and they absolutely, just like the fans, sometimes don’t agree with the way that the game is going. Obviously when you lose games, the questions are plentiful (and) very pointed.

“Again, though, as the head coach, I have to be able to answer those questions. And my job is not only to protect the coaches, but also protect the players. And that’s why I try to take one hundred percent accountability.”

Mayo has been extremely open and transparent throughout his time in the big chair, which often leads to more questions than answers. The Patriots, for instance, don’t look like a well-run organization went he head coach admits to having to defend himself from ownership amid a lost season in which he’s still getting his feet wet.

Can things improve?

Mayo insists they can, and will, but we’ll have to wait and see.