Patriots’ Keion White Not Changing Mindset Despite Impactful Penalties

FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots defender Keion White was the subject of criticism in recent days after he was whistled for two personal foul penalties during a 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

White was flagged for a horse-collar tackle on the first play of the second half and then was called for a roughing the passer penalty three plays later. They gifted a struggling Miami offense, which scored merely three first-half points, 30 yards. The Dolphins capitalized as a 32-yard field goal capped an eight-play, 56-yard drive.

In a game between two offenses who struggled to score points, the penalties didn’t help the Patriots.

You win some, you lose some. I really don’t care.

Keion White on personal foul penalties against Dolphins

“You win some, you lose some,” White told NESN.com in the Patriots locker room on Wednesday. “I really don’t care.”

White attributed those plays as a result of his aggressive playstyle, and he doesn’t intend to change his hard-hitting mindset.

“As long as I’m running to the ball, being aggressive, yeah, you’re going to get penalties,” White said. “But I’m not going to compromise the style of player that I am. Obviously, the style player I am, the league is trending towards a less aggressive league. I don’t care. I’m gonna still be a more old-school, heavy hitter. You take the fines when they come, but you just keep playing.

“Because I feel like, personally, if I stop playing as fast and stop playing as aggressively, then I’m not going to be as dominant of a player.”

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo did not address the plays with White.

“It’s not really a big conversation that we have,” White said. “We hadn’t really talked about it at all, to be honest. But at the end of day it’s my job to be a professional.”

The Patriots were called for 12 penalties totaling 105 yards in the Week 5 loss.