Do Fans Have the Right to Boo?
That depends on who you ask.
Fans technically have every right to voice their displeasure especially as the New England Patriots navigate one of their worst stretches in nearly three decades.
For a franchise accustomed to dominance, this new reality has been a tough pill to swallow. Sure, other NFL fanbases may not sympathize with the struggles of a team spoiled by years of success. But for Patriots fans, the team’s current performance simply doesn’t meet their lofty expectations. And they’re making their frustration heard loud and clear.
Yet, Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai has a different perspective. In a recent interview on WEEI, Tavai voiced his frustration with the booing that erupted during the Patriots’ humiliating 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17.
“I was frustrated. I definitely told a fan to ‘quiet down’—not in the most polite way,” Tavai admitted. “But there’s a reason they’re fans. Everyone thinks they know what we should be doing, but at the end of the day, they’re not qualified to do what our coaches, like Jerod Mayo, are doing. I appreciate the fans sometimes, but they need to know their place and understand that this is a work in progress.”
Unsurprisingly, that comment isn’t likely to sit well with Boston sports fans.
Tavai expanded on his point, urging patience as the team works to rebuild: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. Like I mentioned in another interview, look at the Detroit Lions. Four years ago, under Dan Campbell, they went 3-13. But now, they’ve turned things around over the past two years. I’m not directly comparing, but that’s the vision we’re aiming for a playoff-contending team. Unfortunately, this isn’t our year.”
Five years ago, the idea of the Patriots modeling themselves after the Lions would have been laughable to fans. The notion that a linebacker under a post Belichick regime would tell the fanbase to “know their place”? Even more unthinkable.
But as one of the NFL’s proudest franchises grapples with an unexpected rebuild, frustrations are bound to boil over. Still, telling fans to “know their place” may not be the wisest way to soothe their discontent.
