Head Coach Jerod Mayo 12/30: "Just pushing forth to the last game of the season"

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Jerod Mayo (0:30)

Let me just start. So, yeah, had an opportunity to go back and watch the film. You know, it was full staff and just like I said, after the game, it wasn't much positive to take out of the game. I guess if we want to say it was one thing positive, it was good to see Cole Strange out there. And I would say he played pretty well, graded out pretty well in the game. And for a guy who hasn't played football in a year, to go in there and play center, definitely was encouraging. So, for me, today we have the players in, we have our meetings and stuff, and really just push forward to the last week of the season. We just gotta be able to stay the course through all of the negativity. And look, again, as I've said, winning cures all, we just need to win football games.

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We'll open up for questions.

Chris Price (1:16)

We'll start with Ben Bowen.

Ben Bowen (1:18)

Hey, good morning, Jerod. I know obviously you want to go out this year with a win, but any thoughts to not playing Drake May this week, given the injury risk and given his style of play and everything?

Jerod Mayo (1:32)

I would say right now, like, everything is, you know, in consideration, and we'll see how the week goes.

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Next question, Chris Price, followed by Chris Mason.

Chris Price (1:42)

Hey, Jerod, how much, if at all, does the Bills situation, the fact that they're locked into the number two spot, they might sit some starters, they might have some guys play a quarter, whatever the case may be, how much of it all does that change your thinking when it comes to game play and personnel in the rest of the situation?

Jerod Mayo (1:59)

Yeah, my expectation is, you know, if the guys are healthy, then they're expected to be ready to go out there and play. And again, we'll have to see how the week goes. But I understand the question. I just, you know, the guys are working hard and we need to play football.

Chris Mason (2:12)

Thanks.

Jerod Mayo (2:13)

Thank you.

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Next question, Chris Mason, followed by Chris Ryan.

Chris Mason (2:18)

Hey, Jerod, after the game, Daniel Laqualle said that it feels like a lot of guys start giving up when things get hard. I'm just wondering if you saw any of that on the film in the second half when you reviewed it?

Jerod Mayo (2:29)

No, we saw guys still flying around. Guys were still flying around, giving good effort. And it was just more about just execution as a whole. So I didn't see that.

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Chris Ryan, followed by Doug Kine.

Chris Ryan (2:43)

Hey, Jerod, hope all is well with you. Just wanted to ask you a little about your process when it comes to Drake in that game where he gets medically cleared, although he was showing signs that he said he got his bell rung, he was showing signs that maybe he had had issues. Do you just completely trust in the medical staff in that instance or do you kind of take a step back and think about everything? How do you evaluate during that type of a situation?

Jerod Mayo (3:09)

Yeah, as soon as I go into the tent, I just wait to hear back from the medical professionals and the independent evaluator. If they say it's fine, then it's fine.

Phil Perry (3:17)

Thank you.

Chris Mason (3:18)

Thanks.

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Mike Rees followed by Doug Kye. Hey Jerod, big picture question. I'm just curious, what do you feel are the most impactful things that you've accomplished in your first year as head coach?

Jerod Mayo (3:31)

I'll just say, you know, just being able to weather the storm, and it seems I've been in the storm for a long time. And I think the players, you know, as a whole, I would say they've come in to work every day during the difficult season. I think that's been a huge piece of the puzzle, and hopefully we can keep that going forward. You know, we had eight one score games this year, and we just got to, you know, honestly, we have to win those games, and that's what the NFL is, and that's going to be the goal going forward.