Last week, the Patriots gathered for several days of lockout workouts, at the behest of quarterback Tom Brady. At a time when the value of these sessions is being questioned in some circles, New England’s defensive leader approved of the practices -- and then some.
“It’s been good,” linebacker Jerod Mayo told Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald. “Great getting all the guys back in town and things like that. So, it’s been good.”
It was more than camaraderie and nostalgia.
“[W]e did [get good football-specific work],” Mayo said. “It kinda exceeded my expectations. Guys were out there competing and did a good job.”
It remains to be seen when the Patriots will get together again for additional work stoppage work. It also remains to be seen whether the Patriots really need much work along these lines, given that they have a veteran team with a stable coaching staff and plenty of solid on-field leadership. Indeed, the fact that they were able to so quickly pull it together and perform at a level that impressed Mayo suggests that, even without any lockout workouts, they’ll be able to pick up where they left off in 2010.