ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that the Patriots have reached an agreement with All-Pro linebacker Jerod Mayo on a five-year contract extension. That report has since been confirmed by a variety of other media outlets.
Mayo is currently in the fourth year of the rookie deal he signed with New England as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He is one of the Patriots co-captains. He set a career-best with 175 tackles a year ago, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
After serving as a 3-4 inside linebacker for his first three seasons, Mayo has made the switch to the Will spot in Bill Belichick's new 4-3 front this season. Despite missing time and being slowed by a knee injury, he recorded the first two interceptions of his career over the last two games.
Mayo remains New England's defensive play caller, a respected leader and one of Belichick's most reliable on-field resources.
Though reports have not indicated the financial details of the deal, it's possible that Mayo worked a bit with the team given the fact that he receives long term security more than a full year before he was set to reach free agency.
With the deal, New England now has lucrative, long term deals with its two most talented, consistent players as Mayo and fellow co-captain Vince Wilfork will remain the core of the defensive front for the foreseeable future.
