The Patriots' defensive players are not soft, Belichick said. The post Bill Belichick defends Patriots players, says he was ‘hurt’ by Jerod Mayo calling them soft appeared first on Boston.com.

Belichick didn't mince words. "Defensively, the Patriots led the league last year in rushing defense. Yards per carry (they were) No. 1 in the league, and this year they're way down in the 20s ...

“I’m kind of hurt for those guys,” said Belichick, after first-year coach Jerod Mayo criticized his players in all phases after New England’s lopsided loss to the Jaguars.