Jerod Mayo already making the impact Bill Belichick never could with Patriots

The Bill Belichick era will inevitably be remembered for many things, mainly for being the most successful dynasty in NFL history led by Tom Brady over two decades. However, one of the less discussed topics of his tenure will be his impact on the players he coached, some of whom were not fans of his coaching style.

The eight-time Super Bowl champion earned the reputation of being a stern and demanding coach who worked for the extremely hard-working, nose-to-the-ground type of players who came through the New England doors. But it also became a factor that deterred some from wanting to play for the team, even though it was essentially forfeiting their desire to win a championship.

Belichick's presence eventually made Foxboro labeled a "no fun" place to play for, regardless of the countless wins players were guaranteed during that era.

It made Robert Kraft's hiring of Jerod Mayo that much more fascinating, since he was a former player turned position coach with a dramatically different coaching style than his predecessor and mentor.

Because players flocked to him immediately, even advocating for him to replace Belichick before the position became available, Mayo was quickly labeled a player's coach, which, for the most part, has a negative connotation in today's NFL. It likely explains why he has tried to fight the characterization all offseason.

While it doesn't seem that all those referring to the rookie head coach in that way are meaning it negatively, it was proven to be a significant asset throughout the Patriots' season opener on Sunday, as the formerly toxic atmosphere behind the scenes in Foxboro was noticeably far more joyous as the game went on.

Jerod Mayo's approach to coaching has already made a big impact on the Patriots locker room

From the second Patriots players stepped on the field for warmups on Sunday to when they spoke to reporters after the win, it was clear they were ready to go to war for their teammates and head coach, displaying a much different attitude than a year ago.

It's clear that the numerous changes made to the staff and roster have already had a positive impact on the team's morale, which was seen throughout the game, all the way to showering Mayo with Gatorade to celebrate the Week 1 victory.

Admiration and appreciation for Mayo continued when players spoke to post-game press reporters, most notably Kyle Dugger's complimentary words about how his new head coach approaches what he does and how it means a lot to him and his teammates.

"The way he's communicated to us and leaned on us as individuals, getting feedback from us, it's been huge. I can't speak for everybody but I know that's meant a lot to me. We've been very receptive to that."

But the much-needed positive vibe in the locker room didn't stop at the players sharing their love for Mayo. It was reciprocated by the head coach to the locker room, as he emphasized how important they are to the team, stating he is "nothing" without them.

It's a totally different atmosphere than the usual serious business, an almost stoic vibe that became custom during the Belichick era. It wasn't necessarily bad since the head coach had a decorated resume and clearly knew how to coach a winning team. But given how toxic things appeared over the last few years, seeing a more tension-less locker room is a welcomed change.

Mayo reiterated the importance of the team atmosphere with his follow-up comments, stating, "Winning as a coach is huge. Not for what it does for me but for what it does for those players out there. I just can't say enough about the players."

If that isn't an indication of a new era, than what is?

Robert Kraft topped it off by handing a game ball to his new head coach, which was met with a roar of excitement and applause from the players. This feels like a really fun team to root for, and hopefully, that will continue all season long.

More Patriots news and analysis: