Josh McDaniels and Jerod Mayo open to job interviews, but focus is currently on the Bills

Josh McDaniels and Jerod Mayo, the Patriots in-house candidates for head coaching jobs, are certainly open to advancing their careers elsewhere.

And the opportunities are lining up, with Mayo already a candidate for Denver’s vacant head coaching job as the Broncos have requested an interview.

Right now, however, both said their priority is on the game at hand against Buffalo Saturday night. That’s the top priority.

“Right now, all my focus is on the Buffalo Bills,” said Mayo. “I’ll absolutely take the interview, but right now, it’s all about the Bills.”

McDaniels, meanwhile, said he knew nothing about any team asking for permission as yet.

“I know nothing about that, but it’s the same as I’ve said in the past. If that’s in the cards for me, great,” he said. “But I am totally focused and immersed in the preparation for the Buffalo Bills.”

Mayo said Bill Belichick has been supportive of his career aspirations to become an NFL head coach.

“Bill’s been great with us. He’s been an open book for me whether we’re talking about X’s and O’s, or structuring a team, or anything like that. He’s been great,” said Mayo. “Matty P (Patricia) has been a great resource. All of these guys have been great resources for me.

“But really, the focus is about the season, but at the same time, development has always been a huge factor for me, as far as coaching is concerned. There’s a bunch of guys around here, including Josh McDaniels, even a guy like Jedd Fisch who was here, those guys have been great mentors and great resources for me.”

Mayo said he enjoyed the opportunity to interview with the Eagles last year.

“It was a great experience. I was able to go out there and talk a lot about football, talk a lot about different philosophies,” said Mayo. “It’s good to have those conversations whether it’s around leadership philosophy, or team philosophy, team structure, all that stuff. So I love talking ball, I love developing people. That’s one of the things I enjoy doing. But that’s always been the goal for me . . . Hopefully one day, I get a chance to coach a team.”

For coaches involved with playoff teams, it’s a balancing act keeping focused on the job at hand, while a prospective job opportunity awaits.

“To me, that whole situation kind of takes care of itself depending on what the team is and what they’re looking for,” said McDaniels. “They could look for some big presentation from you or a bunch of big lists or what have you. I’ve kind of just focused on myself and being who I am and not trying to do anything outside of who I am or what I know to impress anybody, figuring that if that’s going to be the way it’ll work out, then it’ll work out.

“The time of the year is always different. It’s not an easy situation for anybody involved in those things,” he went on. “But I think the best thing you could do if you’re involved in a playoff team like we are is put 100 percent of your energy and effort into getting ready for the team you’re getting ready to play, and whatever happens outside of that, the good Lord will take care of that.”

Mayo said if he loses out on a job because he’s focused on the Patriots being in the playoffs, so be it.

“I would hope that any prospective employer would understand my focus is 100 percent on the job at hand. If that causes me not to get a job because I’m focused on the job at hand, so be it. I am happy here. If I don’t get a job because I’m focused on beating the Buffalo Bills, I’m OK. I was a first-round draft pick in 2008. I’m OK.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3zO4RL7