Lately, Bill Belichick has been using his burgeoning bully pulpit to further his agenda and/or settle scores. Whether it is Woody Johnson or Doug Pederson or now Jerod Mayo, the guy who never said it Jack Squat Is I’m talking like a blue streak now, Jack.

In addition to Belichick’s Monday Notes on Pat McAfee As for the new Patriots coach calling his team “soft,” Belichick was asked by Jim Gray on Monday Let’s go! Podcast if he ever had a “soft” team.

“I think when you publicly criticize your team like that, it doesn’t always go down well“Belichick said in response. “Every coach has their own style and maybe that can be effective sometimes. But ultimately I always felt that it was also my responsibility if the team played poorly. We may have played poorly, but we had poor coaching which led to poor play. That’s why I think it’s always best to take a look at yourself and do what you can do to help the team. Then you know that it is your job as a trainer to give constructive criticism.

“Last year the Patriots led the league in rushing defense, yards per carry. Number one in the league. This year they’re 26th or whatever. They are the same players. I don’t think these players are soft on defense. But they didn’t stop the run very well.”

As mentioned on PFT Liveit feels as if Mayo is caught in the middle of the larger cold war between Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft over the glory of the Patriots’ championships and blame for the team’s demise.

To date, Mayo has not responded to Belichick. Expect that question to be asked at Mayo’s next press conference. And expect Mayo’s response to possibly be the next volley from a muzzleloader from the end zone – even if the finger on the trigger isn’t his, but his boss’s.