Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai has heard enough from the team’s disgruntled fan base and is telling them to know their place.
Boos rained down on Tavai and his teammates during their ugly 40-7 home loss to the Chargers in week 17 and he didn’t hold back when asked about the potential frustration of it during his weekly WEEI radio spot on Friday.
The former 2019 second-round pick also stood up for embattled first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.
“I was frustrated. I definitely think I told a fan to ‘quiet down’ in a non-polite way,” Tavai said. “There’s a reason why they’re fans, though. Everyone can say what they think we should be doing… But in the long end, they’re not qualified to do what Mayo’s doing… They’re fans. I appreciate them at times, but sometimes they just have to know their place and understand it’s a work in progress.”
The Patriots are a disappointing 3-13 this season, their first since parting ways with legendary coach Bill Belichick.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye has been a bright spot, but the team still holds the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft heading into a Week 18 clash with the AFC East champion Bills in Foxborough on Sunday.
Tavai is preaching patience from the rabid New England fanbase that is used to the Patriots being a yearly Super Bowl contender.
But New England is under new leadership in Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, the team’s executive vice president of player personnel.
“Rome wasn’t built in one day,” he said. “Like I said before in another interview, there’s been teams that have shown, you know, a work-in-progress team, like the [Detroit] Lions, what four years ago? When Dan Campbell took over, what was their record (3-13)? And then, these past two years… I’m not trying to compare, but that’s a goal that we’re trying to develop here in this new regime.
“That’s the vision. To get to how the Lions are improving, because that’s the type of team we see ourselves as, as a playoff contender. And, unfortunately, that’s not this year.”
The Patriots’ struggles have put Mayo on the hot seat even in just his first season, but the belief is owner Robert Kraft will bring him back next season after long seeing him as Belichick’s successor.
They all could get an earful again from the home fans if the season finale ends in yet another defeat.
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