“Look, once those guys cross the white lines, there’s nothing I can do for them,” Mayo told reporters after the Patriots suffered a 34-15 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday, per a team-provided transcript.
Mayo’s comment, made after New England committed 10 penalties at Hard Rock Stadium, was taken out of context and broadcast on social media. Patriots fans and media members criticized Mayo as they felt it passed the buck and hung players out to dry.
Bentley, however, spoke up in defense of his head coach.
“No way y’all think that’s what he meant by that,” the sidelined Patriots captain posted on X on Sunday night.
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Appearing on WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show” on Monday morning, Mayo further unpacked his “white lines” expression.
“I’ve always said that, and if we would’ve won the game, it looks like a compliment,” Mayo said on the radio. “We lose the game, now it looks like a slap in the face. But if you were to ask any of those players, I say that all the time.”
It’s probably why the Patriots leader didn’t have an issue with it.
