HARROW ON THE HILL, England — Jerod Mayo was answering a British reporter’s query of why a somebody within the U.Okay. ought to decide the Patriots to comply with of their journey as a fan of American soccer, however the head coach may as nicely have been talking to long-time supporters questioning why they’re nonetheless taking three hours out of their weekend to look at the 1-5 squad.
Mayo’s reply, as he stood at a makeshift podium contained in the Harrow Faculty gymnasium exterior of London, was surprisingly candid.
“One factor I might say is we’re hitting the reset button after which trying ahead to constructing one thing particular,” Mayo mentioned. “Wanting ahead to constructing the subsequent dynasty, and it begins with clearly via the draft and growing but in addition via free company. We glance to get again on high right here fairly quickly.”
The 1-5 Patriots are definitely hitting the reset button. However they’ve a number of work to do earlier than starting a brand new dynasty. Invoice Belichick’s Patriots gained a ton of followers in Europe by successful six Tremendous Bowls and showing in three extra in an 18-season span. The trail of the Patriots exhibits how quick the NFL consideration span could be, nevertheless. They’ve had 4 largely forgettable seasons since Tom Brady left, and so they had only one primetime sport on their 2024 schedule. And the Patriots’ efficiency via six weeks shouldn’t have the league second-guessing that call. At instances the Patriots have been onerous to look at.
The Patriots rifled via Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and Jacoby Brissett as starters since Brady left. Their subsequent nice hope is Drake Maye, who created a spark on offense in final week’s loss and was inventive together with his personal reply for why followers within the U.Okay. ought to comply with the Patriots.
“First off, I feel it comes with the staff identify – New England,” Maye mentioned. “I feel it’s simple for U.Okay. followers to be interested in that. Our colours are fairly candy, I feel they signify a number of various things. After which from there form of the thrill from the staff. I feel we’re on the comeup and we have now a number of issues to stay up for, brilliant futures forward. Shout out to all of the followers which might be already Patriots followers over right here and stay up for having some extra.”
Sunday’s sport towards the Jaguars will reveal if the Patriots really are on the rise. The Jaguars current a beatable opponent, and a win will surely go a great distance in bettering morale among the many fanbase. A loss would solely solidify the Patriots as one of many worst groups within the NFL.
General, there are combined emotions amongst NFL gamers on the subject of the pomp and circumstance and journey woes of enjoying in a global sport.
Gamers say that they’re trying ahead to seeing a brand new nation, they’re excited to deliver the game to a global viewers and that it might probably function a staff bonding journey. And sure, all of these issues are true, however the lack of sleep that comes with flying east whereas making an attempt to take care of a traditional weekly apply schedule is a grind that gamers will even grumble about behind the scenes.
The Patriots wrapped up apply Thursday in Foxboro and left for the airport earlier than they might even assessment movie from the session. Quarterback Drake Maye was nonetheless making an attempt to play some catchup Friday when arriving on the Harrow Faculty, which housed the Patriots’ apply in England.
“Simply making an attempt to make amends for some apply tape yesterday, however actually apart from that, I feel we’re making an attempt to get again on the conventional schedule,” Maye mentioned. “We’ll have a typical Friday out right here at this time. Identical apply schedule, going via totally different durations, seeing totally different throws and totally different circumstances all through the video games that we attempt to replicate throughout apply. So, actually the identical schedule, simply in all probability should make amends for yesterday’s movie. You often watch that after apply as a quarterback anyway. So, nothing new, however simply in a unique spot. A variety of new, various things, so simply making an attempt to navigate that.”
Hopefully, in the event you’re a participant, you’re good at sleeping on planes, as a result of the six-hour flight from Boston to London may be the one probability to relaxation earlier than getting on the apply subject at 2:53 p.m. BST (9:37 a.m. ET). There’s a while to see some websites in between conferences on Saturday, however when Sunday’s sport kicks off at 2:30 p.m. BST, gamers’ physique clocks will nonetheless assume it’s 9:30 a.m. ET.
Mayo wasn’t involved.
“I’ve power, I’ve juice, and I might say the gamers do, too,” he mentioned. “We flew out right here; we landed this morning. A variety of these guys slept on the aircraft, and so they have a chance to get their power up via the remainder of the day and prepare for [Sunday].”
The Jaguars have already been in London for per week — they have been embarrassed by the Bears in a 35-16 Week 6 loss. The Patriots might have arrived earlier and ready all week in London however caught to the identical schedule that they adopted final 12 months once they traveled to Germany.
“When it’s all mentioned and completed, it’s about who has probably the most power and who goes on the market and executes their sport plan,” head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned. “So, I don’t see it as a bonus or an obstacle. I feel whoever executes the most effective will win.”
The staff practiced at DFB campus, dwelling to the German nationwide soccer staff, final 12 months earlier than their 10-6 loss to the Colts in Frankfurt. This 12 months, they’re calling the Harrow Faculty, a boarding faculty that was based in 1572 by Queen Elizabeth I, their homebase. The college itself is gorgeous, however the setup for interviews was extra modest and held within the faculty’s echo-y gymnasium with teal and mint inexperienced painted cinderblock partitions and mounted basketball hoops set as a backdrop.
Mayo was requested if he’s a historical past buff since former prime minister of the United Kingdon Sir Winston Churchill is a notable alumni. Such a query may need elicited a 10-minute reply out of former Belichick concerning the technique of World Warfare II. Mayo confirmed his millennial facet and mentioned that, sure, he does like historical past, however he was additionally excited to listen to {that a} scene from “Harry Potter” was filmed on the faculty (“It’s LeviOsa, not LeviosAR!”)
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