New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo, a team captain who in each of the past two years has sustained season-ending injuries that have limited him to a total of 12 games, has restructured his contract, a source confirmed.
The restructure has been anticipated for some time due to his $6.25 million base salary and $10.2 million salary-cap charge for 2015. That likely would have been rich for the team to absorb given Mayo's injuries (torn pectoral muscle in 2013, torn patellar tendon in his knee in 2014).
But Mayo has earned the respect and admiration of head coach Bill Belichick since joining the team as its first-round draft choice in 2008, and the hope of both sides was to reach a compromise to continue their working relationship.
Thus, a source said Mayo will be guaranteed $4.5 million in 2015, with a chance to earn up to $6 million if he plays in 85 percent of the defensive snaps. Furthermore, NFL Network reported that there is a $4 million option before 2016 free agency that the team can pay to pick up the final two years of the contract.
While it's unclear exactly how much salary-cap relief the Patriots will receive, the team has been tighter to the cap than in previous years and this should provide some more breathing room. Prior to Mayo's restructure, the club had $6.79 million of cap space, which ranked as the sixth-lowest figure in the NFL, according to ESPN's salary database.
In July 2014, Belichick said of Mayo, "I think he's as well respected as any player in the locker room and I'd say one of the best overall team leaders, players, and kind of a glue chemistry guy that I've been around."
According to Patriots coaching tabulations, Mayo has totaled 851 tackles over his seven-year career, with 10 sacks, eight forced fumbles and three interceptions.
Fox Sports and NFL Network initially reported news of the restructure.