New Report Hints Reason Behind Week 18 Benching Of Patriots Starter

Jahlani Tavai irked Patriots fans when he called them out, and it seems like the coaching staff also wasn’t too pleased.

Tavai told fans to “know their place” in response to them booing and chanting for Jerod Mayo’s dismissal after New England’s 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17. Mayo told reporters the matter was handled internally and that seemed to be in the way of benching him in Week 18.

The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed on Thursday offered insight into the situation.

“A rumor spread inside the building that ownership had ordered Tavai to be benched for his comments that incited an already angry fan base,” the Boston Herald wrote.

Mayo declined to explain why Tavai was benched the entire first quarter of the win over the Buffalo Bills. The linebacker told reporters that it was an “in-house” matter.

Tavai apologized to those he might have offended, but Patriots fans weren’t too shaken up to see the 28-year-old’s benching.