CINCINNATI — When the Patriots drive started, Davon Godchaux debated if he should go through with it, so he approached Daniel Ekuale with an idea.
They decided it was the right thing to do after seeing Rhamondre Stevenson run for a first down, signaling the Patriots upset win was moments away. That’s when Godchaux grabbed a pair of scissors and cut off his gloves.
The two defensive tackles grabbed an orange bucket, took off the top, walked behind their coach, lifted it, and drenched Jerod Mayo in blue icy Gatorade.
“We were contemplating it. I was like, ‘Man, should I dump him? But I have to dump his ass, it’s his first win,” Godchaux explained. “As soon as Rhamondre got that first down, the game was over. I started cutting my gloves off. Me and Daniel Ekuale were like, we have to dump him. It’s his first win. We don’t count preseason, so we had to dump him. I’m glad he reacted well.”
After the ice hit the turf, Mayo turned around and hugged Ekuale and Godchaux.
“It was a proper way to (celebrate) his first win as a head coach,” Ekuale added. “I think it was only right.”
Sunday’s 16-10 Patriots win over the Bengals marked Mayo’s first victory as an NFL head coach.
That moment meant everything to the players. The Patriots came to Cincinnati as 7.5-point underdogs. They left as victors. New England players were ecstatic thanks to the level of respect they have for the man tasked to replace a legendary coach.
A former player and assistant coach, Mayo brings a different level of energy inside the walls of Gillette Stadium. Although he dislikes the term ‘players coach,’ his players have grown to admire him. He works his them hard. He also gives them a voice as he tries to create a more player-friendly environment in New England.
Bill Belichick casts a shadow the size of six Super Bowl banners. Now in charge, Mayo is doing things his way and in his first game, earned his first win over a talented Bengals team.
“It’s special,” linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley said. “Just because, when Jerod became a coach me and him worked hand-to-hand. He’s always been that older brother figure to me. Then watching him become and propel to the head coaching job and how great he’s been doing and the transition – despite all the outside noise, staying focused. We look forward to keeping that going.”
“We love Mayo,” tight end Hunter Henry added. “We love playing for him. He’s a great coach and we love being around him.”
All offseason, players heard the outside noise. The Patriots offense wasn’t good enough. They had a bad offensive line and lacked elite weapons. The defense, as heralded as it’s been, entered this game without Matthew Judon (traded to Atlanta) and Christian Barmore (out due to blood clots).
Although the front office worked to acquire elite talent — they were rebuffed by Brandon Aiyuk (who took less money to stay in San Francisco) and Calvin Ridley (who preferred Tennessee).
As the Patriots worked out this offseason, they felt being pushed so hard would pay off. Mayo is well-liked as a coach, but players discovered he’s not a pushover. Practices were long and players were pushed hard. After all the offseason work, they were confident heading into Cincinnati.
“It means everything. Everyone else saw the Gatorade bath. It’s cool,” cornerback Christian Gonzalez said. “We put in a lot of work this offseason. Being able to come out with a win in an away game, where everybody doubted us, it meant a lot.”
“We’re trying to establish our identity. We’re trying to come out here and play hard for (Mayo),” Ekuale added. “We had a hard camp this year. It’s very good to start off on a good foot.”
The Patriots roster isn’t perfect. This team is still in the infancy of a rebuild — and Mayo admitted as much on Sunday after the game. But in his first game as the head coach, his offense didn’t turn the ball over and controlled the clock thanks to their run game. The Patriots also benefited from two turnovers — one on defense and one on special teams.
Between the two squads – the Patriots looked like the better-coached team.
“I think it’s the way we practice,” safety Jabrill Peppers said. “I’ve only been in two other places and nobody practices like we practice as far as our conditioning — the tenacity at practice. We’re in full pads, it’s damn-near game (speed).”
“Since I’ve been here, this guy’s had the same energy. He hasn’t switched up. he continues to be that leader and role model,” linebacker Jahlani Tavai added. “To see and hear he gives us the credit, it’s a big thing. We’ll continue to make sure we make him look good.”
After the game, Mayo admitted it was his first Gatorade shower and noted how cold it felt and jokingly was scared for his blue and white Nike shoes. But as he spoke at the podium about his first NFL win, the new Patriots coach said this wasn’t about him. He thanked the Kraft family and his loved ones and even his pop-warner coaches.
In the end he returned his players’ appreciation.
“My message to the players, after they gave me the Gatorade shower — without them I’m nothing,” Mayo said. “And I made sure they knew that.”
They did. That’s part of the reason why they doused their coach on Sunday.
