Patriots coach Mayo talks about Aiyuk snubbing New England originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo isn’t too worried about Brandon Aiyuk knocking off a potential trade that would have sent the 49ers receiver to New England.
“When we start winning games, guys are going to want to come here,” Mayo told reporters on Sunday when asked about the Patriots not being a landing spot for Aiyuk (h/t 98.5 Alex Barth of Sports Hub). “Once we establish the culture, the roster, the guys are going to be excited.”
Last Monday, a league source told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco that the 49ers had a commercial structure in place with the Cleveland Browns and Patriots for Aiyuk as the disgruntled player seeks a new contract with San Francisco or elsewhere.
The Patriots were prepared to offer the biggest deal among the teams pursuing Aiyuk, which reportedly also includes the Pittsburgh Steelers, with sources telling Maiocco that New England’s proposal exceeded US$ 30 million per year and the trade package would have sent Kendrick Bourne back to San Francisco.
Mayo kept things close to the vest when asked about Maiocco’s report last Tuesday.
“I know what you all want to know,” Mayo said. “One thing I learned from Bill [Belichick] I don’t talk about players from other teams, so I’ll say this now. But I remember, as a player, I enjoyed it. I appreciated that the only opinions that mattered were within the walls and so I’m still trying to apply that going forward.”
But ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that night, citing sources, that the Patriots were after Aiyuk — who, according to Maiocco, was not interested in playing for New England.
The Patriots had a deal in place with the 49ers and a big offer for Aiyuk on the table, but he showed no interest in going there. https://t.co/A9saTjG2bI
– Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 7, 2024
Aiyuk’s apparent snub is understandable, as the Patriots enter the 2024 NFL season under a rookie head coach and a less than stable quarterback situation, with journeyman Jacoby Brissett listed first on their depth chart, ahead of rookie Drake Maye.
Leaving a playoff powerhouse like the 49ers to the Patriots, who haven’t made it past the wild card round since 2018, would certainly be a tough move to swallow, no matter the money waiting on the other side. And with San Francisco supposedly back to the negotiating table with Aiyuk, maybe the 49ers making a deal After all, it’s not impossible.
In the meantime, Mayo and the rest of the Patriots will work to become a destination for players who want to win.
