**
LINEBACKER JEROD MAYO**
(on if he had a linebacker he looked up to growing up)
I have always been a Derrick Brooks fan growing up. I never had an opportunity to really meet him in person, but he just seemed like the complete linebacker to me. I always studied film of him.
(on getting injured and whether he came back early)
It was rough getting injured. Anytime you are away from your team it is tough, especially watching the games from home but I feel like the rehab staff, the training staff did an excellent job getting me back in time. I'm just taking it one day at a time right now.
(on being a captain in his second season)
To be honest with you, it kind of comes naturally. I just go to work every day. I think the guys pretty much see me go to work every day and put the time in. I'm not really a big vocal leader. Anybody that knows me knows not I'm not a big rah-rah guy, but I try to lead with my actions. That is pretty much what I continue to do.
(on having success as a rookie last year)
I had a great group of guys around me. Anytime you have guys like Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, guys that have played a lot of football in the NFL, they kind of took me under their wing and showed me how to be a professional on and off the field, as far as studying film and taking care of your body and things like that. Those guys really helped me out a lot.
(on his impressions of Bill Belichick before he got to the Patriots and how his thoughts may have changed now)
Looking from the outside, you just think of Coach Belichick being a strict coach to say the least. Being around him for the past two years, I have the ultimate respect for him as far as how he prepares for the game, as far as how he approaches his players. He teaches everybody the same way. He has no favorites or things like that. He is an excellent coach and I really appreciate what he has done for me.
(on if Coach Belichick has a sense of humor)
He has his own sense of humor. You probably won't see it in the media, but when he is around guys in a comfortable environment, he does have a sense of humor.
(on the funniest thing he has seen Coach Belichick do)
I wouldn't say there is a funniest thing that he has done, but he says a lot of funny things.
(on Junior Seau re-joining the team)
Anytime you have a future Hall of Famer come to an organization you try to learn as much as you can while he is here. He has been doing it a long time, I think 20 years or something like that. While he is here, I'm going to try to learn as much as I can and try to get the rest of the guys to learn as much as they can from him because he has been doing it a long time. He knows what he is doing.
(on how fortunate he feels to go to a contender that has a chance every year)
I feel very fortunate coming to the New England Patriots. The year they drafted me they won 18 games. I'm coming to an organization that really has no holes. They were patient with me and any time you go to a winning organization they have a luxury to be patient with their draft picks. I just took it one day at a time when I got here. I just feel very fortunate.
(on Chris Johnson)
He is very explosive. He is one of those guys that can take it the distance any time he touches the ball. We have to get 11 hats to the football and try to bring him down.
(on the difficulty getting to Chris Johnson with Ahmard Hall at fullback)
It is very difficult. They have a great scheme. That whole offense, especially the offensive line, the fullback and all those guys they make holes for Chris Johnson and LenDale White and those guys take advantage of the holes that are being created. It takes 11 guys on defense to get to the ball and try to bring these guys down.
(on not getting a good angle on Chris Johnson)
You can't catch him from behind. That is where he is so dangerous, trying to catch him from behind. If you don't get him at the point of attack it is going to be a long day for any defense.
(on the mood of the region and whether the Patriots fans might not be satisfied with the 3-2 start)
We are disappointed in our start as well, but at the same time all we can do is go back to the practice field and get better each and every day. We will never be satisfied with losing any game. We are going to take it one day at a time and hopefully get back on the right track.
(on the Titans 0-5 start)
That record, I don't even look at that record because if you watch them on film, they are a great team. That record doesn't speak of the quality of players they have on the team. I don't pay attention to that record. I know those guys are just as disappointed with their record and they are going to come out and bring out all the stops this week.
