New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo believes he's found a way to eliminate fighting in training camp: force the instigator to play the entire preseason game or bench them entirely.
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo is taking a unique approach to curb fighting in training camps: punishment through playing time.
Mayo, who took over as Patriots head coach in 2024 after Bill Belichick's 24-season reign, believes he's found a way to discourage the growing trend of physical altercations in training camps. Inspired by his own experience playing for Belichick for his entire eight-year NFL career, Mayo knows what it takes to succeed in the tough environment of a football camp.
Mayo's Novel Approach to Training Camp Fights: Play or Sit Out
With fights escalating throughout the NFL, Mayo came up with a zero-tolerance policy that he unveiled to his players: any starter who gets into a fight will play the entire preseason game, while non-starters will be benched entirely.
"My message to the players is: If you get in a fight out here, if you're a starter, you're going to play the whole preseason game," Mayo said. "If you're not a starter, you won't play at all. That's kind of my mindset with that."
Mayo's Novel Approach to Training Camp Fights: Play or Sit Out
The rationale behind Mayo's approach is simple: starters typically want to avoid unnecessary playing time in the preseason to minimize the risk of injury, while non-starters need all the game reps they can get to prove their worth. By making fighting a costly endeavor, Mayo hopes to deter players from engaging in physical altercations.
Mayo's approach has been met with mixed reactions. Some players believe it's an effective way to stop fights, while others argue that it may stifle team camaraderie. However, Mayo remains firm in his belief that eliminating fights will ultimately benefit the team.
Mayo's Novel Approach to Training Camp Fights: Play or Sit Out
"I think it's important to set a standard and create a culture where fighting is not accepted," Mayo said. "We're all here to work together and get better as a team. Fighting doesn't help us do that."
Mayo's policy has yet to be tested in a real-life training camp setting, but it has already drawn attention around the NFL. If it proves to be successful, it could become a model for other teams looking to curb fighting in their training camps.
In the meantime, players on the Patriots are taking notice. Quarterback Mac Jones recently said that Mayo's policy has made players "more hesitant" to engage in fights.
"I think guys are really taking it seriously," Jones said. "They know that if they get in a fight, they're going to have to pay for it."
Whether Mayo's approach will be successful remains to be seen, but it's a bold move that has the potential to change the way training camps are conducted. Only time will tell if it can eliminate fighting and foster a more positive and productive training environment.
