One of the most essential parts of the New England Patriots during the dynasty years was the culture that Bill Belichick created, which propelled the team into superstardom and their ability to sustain success over a long period of time.
Once all the winning was over, however, that culture began to show cracks, leading owner Robert Kraft to emphasize it in his next coaching hires.
There was a strong belief that, despite his inexperience, Jerod Mayo was a good fit in that regard, as the defensive players he coached sang his praises and emphasized their desire to see him as the head coach.