The New England Patriots may have the coach that could succeed Bill Belichick one day in Jerod Mayo, but the linebackers coach said it was "hurtful" to see a report alleging he has "rubbed at least some people the wrong way" within the organization.

In December, a report from the Boston Sports Journal detailed how Mayo, who is expected by many to be a leading candidate to replace Bill Belichick as head coach when the time comes, might not be the next person to receive the top job because of relationship issues within the Patriots. Mayo signed a contract extension with the team in the last offseason.

Mayo said Tuesday he has read the report and addressed how he felt seeing it.

"When that report came out, my brother sent it to me. It was more hurtful than anything," he told reporters. "I found it to be, well, the timing was a little bit weird, in my opinion. And, if that was the case, I feel like this would've been leaked sometime earlier."

Mayo added he tries to "treat everyone the same way" and it's sometimes part of the job of the leader to create friction.

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"I always try to be constructive and respectful in my feedback. And some people appreciate that transparency, and some don't," Mayo said. "But at the end of the day, if we can't rub people the wrong way, how do expect to be the best that you can be? And I would say anytime there's change or anything like that, like, it's gonna be painful. Someone's gonna rub you the wrong way. At the end of the day, you have to look through all the words and really get to the substance, or get to the meat and potatoes of what that person is trying to say."

As a result, Mayo said the report helped him in beginning a "period of self-reflection" as he looks forward to the end of the regular season.

"We all have blind spots, and maybe that's one of my blind spots. But at the end of the day, hopefully, whoever put that story out is man or woman enough to bring to my attention to have a conversation," he said.

Who is Jerod Mayo?

The 10th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft out of Tennessee, Mayo has spent his entire professional career in New England.

In eight seasons with the Patriots, Mayo was the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year, a 2010 All-Pro, a two-time Pro Bowl selectee and a Super Bowl 49 champion.

After retiring in 2015, Mayo was hired by New England as the inside linebackers coach in 2019. He has held the position since then and taken on more responsibilities, including sharing play-calling duties with fellow linebackers coach Steve Belichick.