It’s been a frustrating year for everyone associated with the New England Patriots, as the team enters the final week of the season one loss away from a 3-14 record and the No. 1 overall pick.
Fans have voiced their frustration at Gillette Stadium by booing the team and, during this past weekend’s loss to the Chargers, chanting, “Fire Mayo.”
That hasn’t sat well with some Patriots players, with defensive tackle Davon Godchaux criticizing the calls for Jerod Mayo’s job in particular.
Linebacker Jahlani Tavai took things to another level during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show Friday, saying that it’s not fans’ place to boo. Listen to the full interview above.
“Of course,” Tavai said when asked if the boos bothered him. “I don't know. I was frustrated. I definitely think I told them to quiet down in a non-polite way.”
Jermaine Wiggins, a former Patriot himself, followed up by asking if Tavai could at least understand why fans are doing it.
“I don't know. There's a reason why they're fans,” Tavai said. “Everybody can say what they think that we should be doing, but they're not qualified to do what Mayo is doing or whatever the Krafts are doing. They're fans. I appreciate them at times, but sometimes they just have to know their place and just understand that it's a work in progress. Rome wasn't built in one day.”
Tavai went on to point out that that Lions went 3-13-1 in Dan Campbell’s first season as head coach and are now a Super Bowl contender three years later, saying that’s a blueprint the Patriots are trying to follow. Whether Mayo gets that long of a leash remains to be seen.