---

FOXBORO - Jerod Mayo couldn't have asked for a better day to "officially" become a New England Patriot.

Bright blue skies greeted the former linebacker from Tennessee as he took his first walk onto the Gillette Stadium FieldTurf, flanked by Patriots' owner Robert Kraft to his left and son Jonathan to his left. Life was indeed good for the Patriots' first-round draft pick Thursday as he received the ceremonial No. 1 jersey annually given to the team's first-round picks.

"This is our 15th one of these," the elder Kraft said from atop a riser at the 50-yard line, "and when we started doing this, I had a different color hair."

The passage of time may be plainly evident in Kraft's silver locks, but there is always a sense of renewal when the younger players begin to converge upon Foxboro. Mayo was the vanguard of a wave of rookies and free agents that will be in town for the weekend, getting their first taste of what it means to be in the NFL.

"I'm just excited. I'm overwhelmed, really," Mayo said after accepting the No. 1 shirt, which will be replaced in his locker today by a No. 51 practice jersey. "Just sitting in Mr. Kraft's office, sitting there talking with the owner of the team, really overwhelmed me. I'm ready to get my playbook and start learning this defense." Sharply dressed in a dark suit that matched those worn by the two Krafts, and wearing a necktie that met with the owner's approval, Mayo said he felt awed being in the stadium that has produced five Super Bowl trips and three victories since 1994.

"It feels like the first day of school," he said. "The day before the draft, it felt like the day before Christmas. I was trying to go to sleep at 7 o'clock and waking up at three in the morning."

Right off the bat, Mayo got a sense of how the Patriots operate.

"First and foremost, it's all about business," he said. "It's all about winning. They like to win games, and this organization is committed to winning games. Sitting down with Coach (Bill) Belichick and him explaining how I fit in the system is really exciting to me. It had me excited. I'm just excited to get my playbook."

At 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds, Mayo has been called one of the toughest linebackers available in the draft. That would certainly dovetail with the Patriots' needs on the inside - particularly an infusion of youth, strength and athleticism that can be called upon when it becomes clear that Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau (if he returns for his 19th season) are slowing down.

Mayo said he was itching to contribute already, ready to strap on the pads, in fact. But he admitted he would have to wait his turn, carry the veterans' pads back from practice, and most importantly, learn from them.

"I'm just going to sit back and learn from the greats, guys who have been winning championships before me," he said, adding that he wanted fans to know "that I'm a hard worker and I'm going to come in here and contribute to this team in any way I can, whether it be on special teams or as a starter. I'm coming to make a contribution and help bring a championship here."

In some ways, the first-day attention that Mayo received may have been tame by comparison to the fervor that follows SEC football. Being part of a big-time college program may help him adjust to the demands of the next level, but there's still a world of difference between playing for the Volunteers and playing for the Patriots.

"You hear so much about how the SEC is like the minor leagues of the NFL," Mayo said, "but, if you come from college football in general, it's still going to be a step to take, a transition period there, and I'm willing to take that step and work hard to make that transition a lot easier.

"It's kind of overwhelming right now," he added. "I feel like a little boy again. At the same time, I'm just going to relish the moment and enjoy myself." "He's a respectful young man," the elder Kraft said. "He's been brought up well, I think, and very responsible.

"I told him I liked his tie I'm into ties, and he told me that his mom bought it for him," Kraft added. "I asked if it was Charvet because I have one just like that, and he said, 'I don't think so it's $40.' So I looked, and it said 'Scream' or something."

With the salary of a first-round draft pick, Mayo will easily be able to afford the $185-a-pop Charvet ties in the future.

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com