See, a team that has won six Super Bowls and numerous other titles over the last 25 years won’t really accept the mediocrity that is going on right now. Patriots Nation believes in a standard that none of the other franchises goes by. Just look at what happened to Bill Belichick when he didn’t deliver for a season. He left and handed the keys to Jerod Mayo, who has somehow made them worse than last season.

Boos started ringing all over Gillette Stadium last week, with one section of fans even calling for Mayo to be sacked. Well, looking at their 3-13 record, you can’t really blame the supporters for expressing their disappointment. But Patriots LB Jahlani Tavai believes it’s not the right way to support them at such a difficult period. As fans of New England, they should do better, “I don’t know. There’s a reason why they’re fans. Everybody can say what they think that we should be doing. In the long end, they’re not qualified to do what Mayo is doing, or whatever the Pats are doing,” Tavai on The Greg Hill Show.

Now, Tavai wasn’t finished there as he went on to call them a work in progress: “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.” Maybe Tavai is right in his thoughts about fan’s treatment of Mayo. It’s still his first season as head coach in the league. And judging him by a single season would be pretty harsh on the Patriots coach.

So Tavai gave the example of the Detroit Lions under Dan Campbell and how the Patriots are trying to follow their blueprint of success, “Like I said before in another interview, there have been teams that have shown — a work-in-progress team; the Lions, four years ago when Dan Campbell took over, what was their record [3-13-1]? Then these past 2 years, I’m not trying to compare, but that’s a goal we’re trying to develop here in this new regime.” Well, Tavai is nowhere to be contradicted.

The Lions under Campbell are looking like a completely different franchise. Under his watch, the Lions hold a 35-15 record in the last three seasons. As for the Patriots, they have just 15 wins over the same period. Still, Mayo’s players refuse to leave his side. Yes, Tavai isn’t the only one who spoke in support of his rookie manager.

Patriots veteran stands firmly beside his first-year head coach, Jerod Mayo

Jahlani Tavai’s take on Jerod Mayo’s unfair treatment by their fans just adds to the support he is garnering. His veteran wide receiver, Kendrick Bourne, also rallied behind his head coach, “He knows how we feel as players. He knows how we think, how we operate. I think it goes a long way. He’s a hard-working coach. Eventually, it’s going to show.” Now, the Patriots Nation will be thinking when that time will arrive. Because this season is already over, no matter what happens in week 18. Win or lose, the Patriots will have another losing record in their glittering NFL dynasty.

As far as garnering the support of the Patriots veteran’s defensive lineman, Davon Godchaux also did the same when he heard fans booing Mayo, “I get it. They’re pissed off. They pay their money for season tickets and to see the Patriots. I know we don’t tank around her. We still want to win football games. The Fire Mayo chants are just ridiculous. I mean, it’s the guy’s first year. His first season. It’s not going to be golden.” Keeping aside the talks of fans booing, Jerod Mayo and his team still have a chance to show what they are capable of in their last game.

A win in Foxboro on Sunday would give New England something to cheer about. Otherwise, their season has been nothing short of a sinking ship with a captain who doesn’t have a clue how to steer it to safety.