Jerod Mayo saying his Patriots were a “soft” football team following Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars triggered a landslide of reactions.
Former Patriot Christian Fauria, a guest on “Eye on Foxborough” was among those not enamored with Mayo’s choice of words.
Fauria fears Mayo is in danger of losing the locker room as a result. It’s one thing to call out the players in the confines of the locker room. It’s another to provide that kind of bombshell for the media and the masses.
“It’s such a disaster when you resort to that whether he meant to say it or not,” Fauria said. “I just wish he had a time machine where he could go back.
“Instead of calling his team soft, and then have to walk it back, I wish he would have said: ‘I’m soft. I’m an idiot. I’m stupid. I need to be better. Those guys are doing their all, and I’m not putting them in a position to win.’ It’s cliche-ish, but it’s the only safe route to save your team from completely tuning you out.”
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After beating the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener, it’s been downhill ever since with the Patriots losing six straight games.
Mayo’s remark about having a “soft football team across the board” came in wake of the Jaguars running the ball down the Patriots throats. At one point, the Jags handed the ball off 17 straight times because the Patriots were powerless to stop them.
Fauria, who hosts the ”Coached 2 Win” podcast on the YouTube channel, said Mayo has been hurting his cause by all of his mixed messaging. Saying one thing one day, then walking it back the next day doesn’t bode well for a coach.
“I think he just needs to pick a lane, and stay in that lane,” Fauria said. “I don’t think he’s generating any faith in his team.”
Mayo, a first-year head coach, is also not generating much faith in his ability to lead a team.
“I have no idea what’s going to come out of his mouth. Pick a lane,” said Fauria, who talks with coaches on his podcast for them to share their insights. “You don’t owe the media anything. I’d be more vague. Stop telling the truth.”
