For those waiting for significant cracks in the Patriots’ dynasty, this could be considered a major one. Jerod Mayo, the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and a giant piece of the defensive front seven, has said that he’s officially retiring.
Like yours, my first thought was concussion — Mayo is only 29 years old. But upon further review, he’s suffered through four injury-shortened seasons over the past four years, among the maladies being sprained MCL; torn pectoral muscle; torn patellar tendon; shoulder injury. Rehabbing all this stuff, plus the fact that it’s a different injury every time, evidentally takes its toll.