Analysts and NFL stars alike have blasted Jerod Mayo’s “soft team” comments after Sunday’s loss, with former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison leading the charge. Harrison expressed his frustration on Sunday Night Football, calling Mayo’s remarks disrespectful and urging him to motivate his team better. Despite the backlash, Mayo clarified his stance the next day, showing confidence in his players and their potential to improve.
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Rodney Harrison slams Jerod Mayo’s “Soft Team” remarks
Bill Belichick on Jerod Mayo calling the Patriots ‘soft’ 👀 ‘I feel bad!’ | The Pat McAfee Show
Analysts and NFL stars alike have blasted Jerod Mayo’s “soft team” comments after Sunday’s loss. The latest critic? Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison.
During an episode of Sunday Night Football on NBC, Harrison expressed his frustration with Mayo’s remarks while chatting with host Mike Florio. Harrison didn’t mince words, stating, “I thought it was very disrespectful to the players in the locker room. I think this is a moment where he can actually learn from. I thought he was very premature saying that his team was soft, you got to look at yourself man you’re the head coach.” (via: EssentiallySports)
Harrison’s critique didn’t end there. He recalled Bill Belichick’s response to Mayo’s comment, emphasizing that many players on the team are from Belichick’s era. Harrison urged Mayo to “get these guys motivated, you got to get them engaged, and he has to do a better job.” He noted that calling a football player “soft” is one of the worst insults in the sport, as players put in immense effort to prepare for every game.
Following the Patriots’ loss to the Jaguars, Mayo had said, “We’re a soft football team across the board.” So, Harrison thinks it’s a kind of betrayal, because “we can’t trust this guy. He tells us one thing in the locker room. And then he gets in front of the media. He throws us under the bus talking about how soft we are.” Even Belichick disagreed with Mayo, stating, “They’re not soft, they were the best team in the league last year against the run. And those guys that are out there, went out there and did it. Even though we couldn’t score many points offensively.”
While Mayo faces widespread criticism, some teammates are standing by him. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson took Mayo’s comments as a challenge, saying, “I don’t think he thinks we’re a soft team. We’re playing soft at the moment, but I think we have the guys in there that can turn this ship around.”
However, Rodney Harrison remains adamant: “If I’m in that locker room, I’ll take it personally. It pisses me off if he says that I’m a soft football player.”
The tension is palpable among former team stars, but Mayo insists he didn’t mean anything by his comments.
Jerod Mayo attempted to set the record straight
The very next day, head coach Jerod Mayo revisited his comments to clarify his stance. According to him, he meant:“I felt like we just went out there and played soft. We’re playing soft at the moment.” However, Mayo quickly expressed confidence in his team, saying,“Now in saying that, do I think we have the guys in there that can turn this ship around? One hundred percent. But that comes through hard work and getting better each and every day.”
This sentiment resonated with quarterback Drake Maye, who recently stated, “Coach Mayo isn’t going to come in here and say something he hasn’t said to the locker room. I think we’re not tough. He always preaches being tough. We’re not running the football, stopping the run and covering kicks, is what he said. I think he does a great job relaying the message to us, and the guys know.”
Mayo’s explanation is a clear reflection of the team’s belief in their head coach as they acknowledge their mistakes this season and strive to improve.
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