Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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Family Guy A hard-hitting linebacker for the New England Patriots, JEROD MAYO surprises on and off the field. BY STEVE DEOSSIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF CRAWFORD J erod Mayo is nothing like the stereotype of the NFL linebacker. Quiet, reserved, and introspective are words used to describe librarians or philosophers; linebackers in the pros are typically more like rabid dogs in or out of the game. The contrast between the 27-year-old's off-field demeanor and his on-field presence is striking. People as calm as Mayo do not play linebacker in the NFL. You can't be that relaxed one day and then incredibly intense on game day. But Mayo has a special balance in his personal and professional lives, and that balance makes him unique among pro football players. The first indication of this dichotomy was evident on the day of the NFL draft in 2008. The vast majority of the surefire first-round picks were at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, decked out in outrageous custom-made suits that were sure to make them cringe when they looked back on their fashion choices years later. Mayo was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he was right where he most wanted to be—at home with his family. On one of the most important days of his young life he wanted nothing more than to be in the low-key and secure company of the people who were most important to him. Too many NFL players don't realize the importance of family until later in their careers, if at all. Mayo is that one in a thousand who understood the importance of family at a young age. Not that his family life was all sunshine and lollipops. He readily admits that his father hasn't been part of his life since he was a child. Yet when asked about the people who had the greatest impact on him, he says, "My mother was a huge influence in my life. She always worked at least two jobs, and never let us know how tough it was. My grandfather, a master sergeant in the Air Force, was always BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 104-107_BC_F_CS_LateFall_13.indd 105 105 9/16/13 11:06 AM