Three days have passed since Jerod Mayo said the Patriots have a soft football team across the board.

He has since clarified those comments, saying he meant to point out that the team was playing soft in the moment instead of calling them soft overall.

Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick weighed in, saying that the players are not soft. Injured center David Andrews said the comments were true and that the team should be fired up to prove Mayo wrong.

Now that the Patriots are back from London, several players were asked for their reactions to Mayo’s comments.

Defensive end Keion White said the game film proved Mayo to be correct. He said that the Patriots need to take pride in their product and that Mayo shouldn’t have to call them out for players to step up.

“It’s all about what we put on tape. A lot of us were playing soft, me included. So, I don’t take things personal,” White said. “I don’t think anybody should take things personal, especially in this line of work. I feel like since all of us have been in middle school we’ve all had coaches who have said a lot worse. So that’s not really that big of a deal for me.”

Tight-end Hunter Henry said he views the comments as a challenge for the team to raise its collective game.

“I think it’s got to challenge you,” Henry said. “This is a physical game. You never want that to be our identity. I think that’s a big challenge for all of us. I think I’ve looked at myself in the mirror, and I think everybody else will look at themselves, like that’s a big challenge. You never want to be identified that way.”

Sunday afternoon, in the aftermath of the game, safety Kyle Dugger said he was glad Mayo put the comments out there. Quarterback Drake Maye said the team needed to man up.

Mayo said Wednesday that he had additional conversation with the team since his comments and doesn’t find it harder to talk to them since he made them.

“We’ve had those conversations,” Mayo said. “I’ve always looked at that as an opportunity to go out there and prove everyone wrong. Once again, going back to a chip on your shoulder, we’ve all had those chips on our shoulders at times that have gotten us through. So, this is no different. Obviously, once again, we are struggling as a team. Our record is what it is. It’s about what we can do to get better.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

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Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

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