Jerod Mayo: Patriots Ignoring The Noise
BOSTON (CBS) - The Patriots have been through a lot in the past, so if you think a little ball deflation controversy is going to derail their Super Bowl preparation then you're sorely mistaken.
Linebacker Jerod Mayo joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich Thursday morning to cover a number of topics, starting with the mindset of the team as DeflateGate rages on.
READ: DeflateGate Coverage
Mayo told T&R he has no knowledge of football inflation.
"I'm on defense. I'm trying to get the opposing football," said Mayo, channeling the similar comments made by teammate Vince Wilfork earlier in the week. "I feel like I'm on trial here [laughter]."
No team in the NFL has had more success over the last 15 years than New England, so Rich was curious to hear Mayo's take if he believes the media is piling on simply because it's the Patriots.
"I don't know. You've heard it a thousand times, we always talk about ignoring the noise and moving forward, and that's what we're doing. Inside those walls, inside that building, all of us we're talking about the Seahawks. That's where our attention should be."
Heath Evans: DeflateGate Won't Be A Distraction For Patriots
Once again, the Patriots are considered the villain by everyone outside of New England, which would seem to be a sort of rallying cry for the team. But Mayo said this type of stuff is nothing new for them.
"I think that's our mentality every year, honestly. Obviously we have our fans, but outside of the New England area a lot of people don't root for us. That's our mentality, to go out there and perform well each and every week," said Mayo. "We put a game plan together, and we expect to go out and execute it. It's no different this week."
On "bulletin board material," Mayo says that added motivation can make a difference for some players, but with the Super Bowl on the line -- against a great team in Seattle, no less -- you definitely don't need a rah-rah speech to get pumped for a game like this.
"Obviously we're excited to be in the game. Hopefully we go out there and perform well."
Mayo also talked about Tom Brady's trash talking and how the quarterback once broke his tooth, the legend of Vince Wilfork dunking a basketball and much more.
Jerod Mayo is teaming with Verizon for the #WhosGonnaWin program. To learn more this unique endeavor, and to hear the full interview, listen to the conversation below:
Tune in to Super Bowl XLIX on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the New England Patriots. It's the only place to hear Bob Socci & Scott Zolak's local call of the game!
