Dude, can you imagine how it’d feel if your favorite team, with six freaking Super Bowl wins, had an absolutely terrible season? Really bad, right? This was the same feeling the New England Patriots fans went through when they witnessed their team succumb once again. They stand 3-13 after week 17, as the Los Angeles Chargers handed them another defeat. Fans were fumed, but their special team coordinator had some soothing message for them.

The 4-7 loss to the Chargers triggered Patriots fans, who started booing the players. As the divide between players and fans widened, the Patriots’ special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer tried to become a bridge. When asked about the fan-Tavai incidents, Springer said, “I’m all about the team and the fans too. I know, when I was a kid my parent could not afford the football games. There are expensive tickets. They are spending like a thousand dollars on Monday and losing like we did, I mean they are upset. They are frustrated.  And they should be.”

What Springer said after the above message was promising. Springer continued, “We have put a better product on the field. And that’s what our job is. So, anytime I hear that…okay what can I do better so that they are not doing it next time. What can I do to be better as a coordinator…as a coach to make our player play harder and play better so we don’t hear that [again].” The special teams coordinator gave fans a belief that the team values their money and time.

Alright. These things happen. But after the matchup, New England linebacker Jahlani Tavai strongly criticized the fans for their behavior toward the players.

Jahlani Tavai’s bold message after booing

In the Patriots–Chargers game, fans not only booed players but were also chanting ‘Fire Mayo.’ Tavai didn’t like how fans behaved. And when he appeared on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show after the game, Jahlani said, “The fans, I appreciate them at times, but sometimes they just have to know their place and just understand that it’s a work in progress. Rome wasn’t built in one day.” Alright. He confessed the frustration, but that invited a major criticism.

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo admits the team is having an unexpected season. On Jahlani Tavai’s comments, the HC said, “I’ve handled that internally. We had a conversation about it, so I’m gonna keep that in house. I will say this, look, for the fans, I’ve said this before, I’m a fan of different things too.” Talking about the booing, he remarked, “Like, look, no one’s happy with our record. No one’s happy where we are right now… we haven’t done that this year. So look, I understand.” The coach certainly felt the fans’ emotions. To smoothen things more, Tavai addressed the issue once more.

Expressing to the Boston Globe’s Christopher Price, he clarified his comments, saying, “To anybody that was offended, that’s not who I am.” He also emphasized that he is someone who stands up for his brothers.

The issue is still burning and may be on the level until the New England Patriots don’t make the big games. The franchise has earned tremendous respect over the years, and we can’t just give up on it because of a few bad seasons or plays! What’s your take on this?