Mayo for Defensive Rookie of the Year

Jerod Mayo was the 10th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, coming to New England out of Tennessee, where he started 26 of 32 games for the Vols. His addition to the team marks the first time the Patriots have picked up a linebacker in the NFL Draft before the fifth round in eight drafts. Bill Belichick took a risk on taking Mayo in the first round, but now the Patriots’ head coach is rejoicing his pick for the rookie linebacker, as Mayo has proven his strength and ability with the Patriots this season. The latest headline for the linebacker? His 20-tackle performance in last Thursday’s Patriots-Jets matchup. Mayo has started every game next to Tedy Bruschi, one of the best players in the NFL, and last Thursday Mayo proved his worth in the running of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, already setting a record as the only Patriots linebacker to reach 20 tackles in one game (since 1994, at least.) Mayo currently leads the Patriots with 85 tackles, ranking him second in the entire NFL behind Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson.

Mayo is up against Rams end Chris Long, Redskins safety Chris Horton, Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, Dolphins end Kendall Langford and Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton for Defensive Rookie of the Year, but Mayo’s stellar performances may put him in the early lead of the pack.

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Posted in Uncategorized on November 18, 2008

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