Patriots' Jerod Mayo Outlines Strict Discipline If Players Fight in Eagles Practices
August 13, 2024
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has a unique form of discipline in mind if any of his players gets involved in a fight when they hold joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles this week leading up to their preseason game on Thursday.
Mayo revealed on Tuesday that any starters who get into a fight will have to play the entire preseason game and any backups who engage in fisticuffs won't see the field for the Eagles game.
Patriots on CLNS Media @PatriotsCLNSJerod Mayo says if you FIGHT and you're a starter then will play a whole preseason game, if your not then you won't play at all<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/patriots?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#patriots</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nfl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nfl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/newenglandpatriots?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#newenglandpatriots</a><br>⚡️ by <a href="https://twitter.com/PrizePicks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrizePicks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Gametime?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gametime</a> <a href="https://t.co/bzQITvNRSo">pic.twitter.com/bzQITvNRSo</a>
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni didn't quite go as far as to say he would play starters for the entire game if they were involved in a physical altercation. However, he emphasized they "will preach" to their players the importance of keeping their composure.
Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said last week on The Pat McAfee Show that "it's really important that you're on the same page as the other staff" during a joint practice because fighting is counterproductive to what both teams want to accomplish.
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow"It's really important that you're on the same page as the other staff in these joint practices..<br><br>You have to get on the same practice tempo with your opponent & the fights make it counter productive..<br><br>In terms of preparing your team I thought they were great" ~ Bill Belichick… <a href="https://t.co/ukhtYzZ8WN">pic.twitter.com/ukhtYzZ8WN</a>
Players fighting in training camp is not new. It will happen often between teammates, so bringing another team into the equation can only ratchet up the tension.
Last week, the NFL fined the New York Giants and Detroit Lions $200,000 each stemming from multiple fights that broke out during their joint practice.
"All NFL clubs were reminded in a memo sent last month that fighting and unprofessional conduct at joint practices would not be tolerated," the league said in a statement about the fine.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Malik Nabers were among the players involved in the various altercations.
It would be interesting to see if Mayo followed through on his threat to make starters play a full preseason game if they were involved in an altercation with an Eagles player.
Belichick wasn't afraid to use his starters for extended periods when he was coaching in New England. Tom Brady attempted 44 passes in two preseason games in 2018 entering his age-41 season.
The Patriots are hosting the Eagles for their joint practice on Tuesday. The two teams will play a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
