Count Drake Maye Among Patriots Who Agree With Harsh Jerod Mayo Criticism

Jerod Mayo offered a blunt critique of the New England Patriots following their 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

“We’re a soft football team across the board,” Mayo told reporters, per team-provided video. “We talk about what it takes to be a tough football team, and that’s being able to run the ball, being able to stop the run and being able to covering kicks. We did none of those today.”

Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye was among those who agreed with Mayo’s assessment.

“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,” Maye told reporters, per a team-provided video. “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.”

Maye wasn’t the only one who agreed either.

Kyle Dugger confirmed Mayo shared the message to the team, and the veteran safety said he was glad he did. Fellow Patriot Daniel Ekuale also said he agreed with Mayo’s assessment, and the veteran defensive tackle proceeded to call out teammates himself.

While Mayo’s criticism might have blunt and harsh, that’s not to say it wasn’t well-deserved. The Patriots allowed 171 rushing yards in comparison to 38 of their own. New England also allowed a special teams touchdown and a mind-boggling special teams penalty all but gifted the Jags a two-point conversion.