Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick expressed feeling “kind of hurt” for the players on this year’s team during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Belichick’s comment reflects his empathy for the challenges the current squad is facing.
“To call them soft … They’re not soft, they were the best team in the league last year against the run. And those guys that are out there, went out there and did it even though we couldn’t score many points offensively.
“So, I don’t know, I feel bad for the defensive players on that one because those guys … that’s a tough group.”
Belichick shared his thoughts while discussing New England’s sixth consecutive loss, a 32-16 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After the game head coach Jerod Mayo called his team “soft.”
“We’re a soft football team across the board,” he said.
Belichick pointed out on Monday that many members of this year’s squad played for him last year and said that “they’ll strap it up and go.”
This year’s team ranks last in the NFL in total offense and 25th in total defense. They are allowing an average of 4.6 yards per carry over three games, a significant increase from the 3.3 yards they surrendered in 2023.
New England is 1-6 this season after opening the season with a win against the Bengals.
The Patriots host the Jets on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
(Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
