Patriots’ Jahlani Tavai Responds To Backlash Over Controversial Comments

Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai put himself in hot water and tried to cool the flames not long after.

The sixth-year linebacker defended Jerod Mayo by calling out fans who booed and chanted for the head coach’s firing during New England’s 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last Saturday. Tavai went as far as to tell fans to “know their place,” which obviously didn’t go over well publicly.

Mayo told reporters Friday morning that the matter was handled internally. Tavai later got out in front of the situation and addressed his comments made on WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show.”

“To anybody who was offended, that’s not who I am. What I am is a guy who is going to defend his brothers,” Tavai told reporters, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Anybody who is my co-worker or comes to this facility, I’m going to have their back. I’m sure if somebody who is listening right now, if somebody came into their house and did the same thing and talked about their family and people they worked with, they’ll act some type of way too. That’s it. So if that clears up a lot of stuff, and if people still don’t like it, then whatever. It is what it is.

“… I’m not trying to get a reaction. I’m trying to show that we are frustrated too. I don’t like being a loser; I (expletive) hate to lose. I’m frustrated, too. I’m not trying to poke buttons and stuff against the fans. I’m just going to be real. I’m going to say what I’m saying — I’m defending my own. That’s it.

“… What I said is what I said. I apologize to anybody whose feelings got hurt. But I’m going to defend my own.”

Whether or not fans accept Tavai’s apology or had an issue with the “to those were who offended” the way the 28-year-old chose to apologize might not matter. The damage already was done, and fans were frustrated with the team long before Week 17. Tavai’s defense might not quell those who attend the regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.