‘Brutal’ Rex Ryan calls out Jerod Mayo for calling his team “soft”

Rex Ryan bluntly expressed his concerns with the coaching style of Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo after he labeled his team as 'soft.'

‘Brutal’ Rex Ryan calls out Jerod Mayo for calling his team “soft”

Jerod Mayo and Rex Ryan (Via Imago/The Spun)

For more than two decades, the New England Patriots ruled over the NFL as one of the strongest teams tied for the highest number of Super Bowl trophies. However, it all came crashing down with Tom Brady’s departure in 2020, which compelled owner Robert Saleh to fire head coach Bill Belichick and bring in Jerod Mayo. 

Prior to the season, head coach Mayo received a lot of praise for changing the atmosphere of the Patriots locker room. Unfortunately, he couldn’t bring it further to the field and they are sitting with a humiliating 1-6 record. New England’s deteriorating condition has caught the attention of former NFL legendary head coach Rex Ryan, who bluntly expressed his concerns with the coaching style of Mayo. 

YouTube video

During the latest edition of ESPN’s NFL Sunday Countdown, Ryan discussed the Patriots’ head coach’s recent press conference, following the Week 7 loss where he labeled his team as a “soft team across the board.” Disagreeing with Mayo’s soft remark, Ryan blasted him for putting the blame on his team instead of taking accountability. 

FS Video

It’’s not a we thing, it’s a you thing. It’s your problem. If your team is soft, as you put it, that’s on you. I think this is a comment better served in private than it is publicly. Like these are grown a** men, and you’re gonna try to embarrass them in public. Your team stinks by the way, this team stinks. But soft? I hate the word.

Rex Ryan said

Ryan called out the 38-year-old for embarrassing his team in the public eye and using the word ‘soft’ as a blanket for their poor performance. 

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Bill Belichick defends Patriots players as Jerod Mayo labeled them ‘soft’

The former Jets head coach isn’t the only one criticizing Mayo’s ‘soft’ remark for his team, the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach also slammed him, suggesting that the players aren’t the only problem with the team’s deteriorating performance. Belichick argued that the players are the same on the team, which led the league in rushing defense last season. 

Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo (via Forbes)

Last year, the Patriots led the league in rushing defense yards per carry, No. 1 in the league. This year, they’re 26th or whatever it is. It’s the same players. I don’t think those players on defense are soft, but they haven’t stopped the run very well.

Bill Belichick said
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New England is coming off another poor 32-16 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars which has sunk them at the bottom of AFC East. With a six-game losing streak, the Patriots are now preparing for their upcoming match against the New York Jets, 2-5.