Patriots Rumors: Details Of ‘Working Relationship’ Among Prominent Coaches

Speculation ran rampant after Jerod Mayo threw Alex Van Pelt under the bus with a late-season comment.

Did the working relationship between the Patriots first-year head coach and first-year offensive coordinator deteriorate? Was Mayo making Van Pelt the scapegoat amid a disastrous campaign?

According to the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed, Mayo and Van Pelt were on fine terms at season’s end.

“The two maintained a strong working relationship, according to a source, with Van Pelt effectively operating as the head coach of the offense,” the Herald duo wrote in an in-depth story Thursday. “Van Pelt’s organization skills, sources said, kept the staff together, even though his play-calling rightfully came under fire from fans, media and ownership.”

Mayo reportedly covered for Van Pelt in Week 17 after Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson started a game he was not supposed to. Mayo referred to it as a “coach’s decision.”

“According to sources, Mayo had told offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to sit Stevenson shortly before the game but that order, which was supposed to be relayed to running backs coach Taylor Embree, failed to reach Stevenson,” the Boston Herald wrote.

Mayo was fired Sunday after Patriots owner Robert Kraft saw what everyone else did: regression.

Van Pelt remains the Patriots offensive coordinator for the time being. Kraft confirmed the team’s next head coach (Mike Vrabel? Ben Johnson?) will pick his staff.