Tiago White offered support to embattled Jerod Mayo

Morning sports update

“When it comes to saying ‘fire this guy, trade that guy,’ I don’t think we need to go there.”

Tiago White asked for patience regarding Jerod Mayo: With the Patriots starting the season 1-6 — and the Jerod Mayo era — a former Super Bowl hero threw his support behind the embattled head coach.

Mayo labeled his team “soft” after a 32-16 loss to the Jaguars in London in Week 7, in which New England gave up more than 170 rushing yards for the third consecutive game.

His comments sparked a polarizing reaction, even prompting a dissenting response from former Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Mayo has since clarified that he was specifically referring to his team as having “played softly”.

However, speculation about his professional status has already begun, in some form, less than a year into his tenure in New England.

In response to the dramatic reactions to Mayo and his comments, former Patriots running back James White attempted to strike a more measured tone in a recent interview with Taylor Kyles of CLNS.

“I mean, when you’re 1-6, things aren’t going well, you can’t score on offense, teams are running over you on defense, people are going to figure out that every little thing you’re doing will. be the wrong thing and they want you to do the opposite of what you are currently doing,” he explained.

White tried to get fans to take a step back and consider the circumstances for a moment.

“I think everything is under the microscope now, and that’s what happens when you lose football games. I think Mayo is doing a solid job,” he said. He noted that the new coach simply has a different style than his predecessor.

“I just think it’s different. People are not used to this. He’s going to be himself,” White said of Mayo. “He can’t be Bill in the media. Come on, let’s call it that. He will not be less talkative or less descriptive. Maybe he’ll eventually get to that point, I don’t know. He’s just trying to be himself, and I think people aren’t really open to that right now because they’re not winning.”

New England is off to its worst start since 1993, when the Patriots opened the season with a 1-11 record.

White said rebuilding will take time and require patience even when it’s difficult to pull together.

“We have to let things happen,” he said. “It’s just the nature of the game. When you’re losing in the NFL, you’re going to hear all kinds of things about what you need to do and what you shouldn’t do. That’s exactly what comes with it.”

When it comes to advice for Patriots fans, the three-time Super Bowl winner emphasized trying to see the bigger picture.

“Just manage your expectations,” White said. “Most of you probably assumed that we weren’t going to win many football games to begin with. And now that we’re in this situation, everyone is ready to jump ship. Fire this guy, fire that guy, replace this guy, get rid of this guy. That’s not how this whole operation works.

“It’s Mayo’s first year as head coach, let him learn and grow throughout the year. Let these players learn and grow together. You have a rookie quarterback. It looks like his future is bright. Let it grow throughout the year.”

As difficult as it may be in the context of New England’s decades-long tenure among the league’s elite, White thinks Patriots fans need to find something to be optimistic about, even in the midst of the losses.

“Just find the positive,” White said. “It can be difficult trying to find the positive in what you see every weekend.”

“I really think these guys will continue to compete,” he added, “and compete more as the year goes on. It’s hard, it’s not fun. I’m telling you, as a player, it’s no fun going into that building after losses, especially after losing six in a row. I mean, I’ve never been in that situation, but I can only imagine.”

And as far as calling for Mayo to be fired so quickly at the start of his first head coaching job, White warned fans and pundits to pump the brakes.

“You have external noise, obviously. You will also have some noise inside the building. I think Mayo will do a good job of keeping these guys together,” concluded White. “As fans, as we watch, there is nothing wrong with being a harsh critic. That’s fine, but when it comes to saying ‘fire this guy, replace that guy,’ I don’t think we need to go there. This is the first year of this operation. This will take time.”

Curiosities: As a senior at Wisconsin, James White combined for 3,053 rushing yards with which future first-round NFL pick?

(Answer at the bottom).

Tip: This player was drafted by the Chargers.

Scores and schedules:

Tonight, the Celtics will face the Wizards in Washington at 7 p.m.

Also tonight (7 p.m.), the Bruins host the Stars at TD Garden.

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