From the look and feel of the news conferences, to the transparency of who the coordinators are and the team building, Jerod Mayo's New England Patriots are a new-look group from seasons past.
Obvious as the changes might be, Mayo made it clear on Wednesday that none of the alterations should be viewed as slights to Bill Belichick, the architect of the Patriots dynasty who parted ways with the franchise after 24 seasons last month.
"Look, it's going to be different," Mayo said Wednesday of the team's roster construction approach, via . "At the same time, I would say Bill did a great job for a long period of time. I don't want you guys to take this as, because we're changing, (these are) shots at the previous regime. In saying that, we will do it differently. It'll feel different, but at the end of the day, we would like to replicate the success that the prior regime had. I learned a lot from Bill and also his staff. But now we'll see what this chapter looks like in the franchise."
Mayo's remarks came a day after new Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf outlined the changes in team building the franchise was applying.
Though Mayo stood firm in embracing the changes in Boston, he made it clear that none of them should be seen as an indictment on how the Super Bowl-winningest head coach in history handled his business. After all, Mayo played eight seasons under Belichick and was an assistant for "The Hoodie" for five more.
Still, it's a new era in New England and a new approach will determine if the Patriots can reclaim the success of yesteryear after the club has gone five seasons without a playoff victory.
"It's been done a certain way at a high level for what, 20-plus years?" Mayo said. "But I would also say there's more than one way to skin a cat. It worked for coach (Belichick). We'll see what works for Eliot and myself."
