Eliot Wolf will be the Patriots General Manager

By: Steve Atkinson

As the Patriots interview candidates for their General Manager job, the word on the street is it will go to Eliot Wolf. Wolf has done what he’s said he was going to do since the Combine. They’ve resigned their own players in free agency, got their new franchise quarterback, and drafted offense to help the young quarterback. Not defense, and special teams Belichick people.

Eliot Wolf Isn’t A Belichick Guy He’s A Kraft Hire

With Wolf, you’ll never see a defensive coach on the offensive side or even a special teams coach. Also, you won’t see them rushing to start Maye this season because they really don’t want to rush him out there. They have a good leader and veteran Jacoby Brissett plus a new backup in Joe Milton. The toxic backup Bailey Zappe is going to get cut. Don’t let him being on the roster fool you. Here is this from Mike Reiss.

What Mayo and Wolf are likely weighing: Zappe’s starting experience has value behind Brissett if Maye ultimately needs more time to develop behind the scenes, but could his presence somehow impede Maye’s space to develop important bonds and grow with new teammates

The answer to that question is yes. The kid thinks he’s the next thing since Tom Brady only because he kissed Belichick’s ass and Matt Patricia’s. He felt entitled and that doesn’t fit what Wolf and Mayo are trying to do here. Zappe probably even thinks he’s better than Drake Maye.

The day Maye was introduced on Zappe’s birthday the Patriots didn’t even acknowledge Zappe’s birthday. He’s gone it’s only a matter of time.

The new vibe of the Patriots is more about coming and working together. More collaborative approach than before with just listening to Belichick all the time. Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network wrote this last week about the facility

Inside the Patriots facility, the walls tell the story of change. Nearly all the signs and emblems of the Belichick era, including those that read “The Patriot Way” and “Do Your Job,” have been replaced.

Now, the first hallway signs you see when you walk in the building read, “We not me,” “Hard work works,” and “Process, Progress, Payoff,” — the latter is also the theme Mayo has set for his first season as head coach. Another wall reads, “When we win we win together,” a phrase that came from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt after Mayo encouraged his assistant coaches to contribute. Mayo loved it. Now, it’s in every meeting room.

Mayo is a players coach and Wolf understands that and realizes that’s what you need in today’s NFL. Players today want to know the why and be able to connect with their coaches on a personal level.

“You gotta show these guys that you care about them,” Mayo told me. “It’s different than it was back in the day where you expect them to just do what you say. You gotta show them you care about them as a man, as a father, before you even start talking X and Os. Once you build that relationship with players then you can be tough on them. But not before. I coach out of love and my staff will too.”