Mayo called the team “soft” following their Week 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Multiple Patriots players have responded to the comment, and Belichick himself gave an initial opinion on Monday. He disagreed with Mayo’s assessment of the team and defended the defensive side of the ball in particular.

Bill Belichick, who coached the Patriots last year before parting ways with the franchise he led to six Super Bowl victories, stuck up for the players on the team during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo didn't hold back when he called the team "soft" after its Week 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars,