Patriots linebacker Jalani Tavai has heard enough from his team's disgruntled fan base to let them know where they stand.
After boos rained down on Tavai and his teammates during a brutal 40-7 home loss to the Chargers in Week 17, Tavai and his teammates talked about the potential frustrations that came with it in a weekly WEEI radio spot on Friday. When asked about rations, he didn't hold back.
The former 2019 second-round pick also served as a voice for embattled first-year head coach Jerrod Mayo.
“It was frustrating. I definitely think I told the fans 'shut up' in a way that wasn't polite,” Tavai said. “But there's a reason they're fans. Everyone can say what they think we should do…but at the end of the day, they have to do what Mayo does. They're not entitled to… They're fans. Sometimes I appreciate them, but sometimes they just need to know where they stand and understand that it's a work in progress. is.”
The Patriots finished this season with a disappointing 3-13 record, their first since parting ways with legendary coach Bill Belichick.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye is a hot topic, but the team still holds the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and will face the AFC East champion Bills in Week 18 in Foxboro on Sunday. will face off against.
Tavai preaches patience to a passionate New England fan base accustomed to the Patriots being a Super Bowl contender every year.
But New England is under new leadership from Mayo and de facto general manager Elliott Wolf, who is the team's executive vice president of player personnel.
“Rome wasn't built in a day,” he said. “As I said before in another interview, there have been teams in the past that have shown themselves to be a team in progress. [Detroit] Lions, what was 4 years ago? What was their record when Dan Campbell took over (3-13)? And the last two years… I'm not trying to compare, but that's what we're trying to develop with this new regime. .
“That's the vision. To see how the Lions are improving. Because as a playoff contender, that's the type of team we see ourselves as. And unfortunately, that's not this year.”
Mayo has been in the spotlight since his first year on the job due to the Patriots' struggles, but owner Robert Kraft has long considered Belichick's successor and is believed to bring Mayo back next season.
If the final game of the season ends in another defeat, they all could potentially hear from the home fans again.
