Over the last year, Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has drawn increased attention as Bill Belichick’s future grows increasingly uncertain.

Last January, Mayo signed a new contract that included more money and greater responsibilities, which led some in the organization to believe he will be eventually become Belichick’s successor as head coach.

However, according to a report from the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard, Mayo has also “rubbed at least some people the wrong way in the building,” since signing his new deal. Asked about the report Tuesday during a conference call, Mayo admitted the story had been brought to his attention, and he found it “hurtful,”

Mayo also said he tries to avoid reading articles during the season, before offering two lengthy answers to separate questions about the report and how he processed it last week.

His full comments are below.

“Honestly when that report came out, you know, my brother sent it to me. It was more hurtful than anything. I found it to be, well — the timing is a little bit weird, in my opinion. And if that was the case, I feel like this would have been leaked sometime earlier,” he said. “At the same time. I try to treat everyone the same way. And I will say this — I’ve thought about it for a while — when people talk about rubbing people the wrong way, like obviously sometimes — I mean that’s part of the job of being a leader; to rub people the wrong way.

“And I always try to be, you know, constructive and respectful in my feedback. And some people appreciate that transparency and some don’t. But at the end of the day, if we can’t rub people the wrong way, how do you expect to be the best that you can be?  And I would say, any time there’s change or anything like that, it’s gonna be painful. If 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’s trying to say.

New England Patriots assistant coaches DeMarcus Covington, left, and Jerod Mayo look on during a Dec. 15, 2019 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. (Staff Photo/Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

“So, it actually helped me. It kind of triggered a period of self-reflection. I know it’s recent — I think it’s like a week old at this point — but it triggered an opportunity for self-reflection. And we all have blind spots, and maybe that’s one of my blind spots. But, you know, at the end of the day, hopefully, whoever put that story out, is man or woman enough to bring (it) to my attention to have a conversation.”

He later added: “Chris (Ryan), I think that’s a great question. Once again, it wasn’t — I went through the whole emotional, just, like, cycle. First of all, being angry; angry at the point where, you know, I’ve felt like I always treat people the same. I’ve really haven’t changed in regards to that. And I have evolved as a coach, I have evolved as a man in my mid-30s. But at the same time, I would just hope that going forward, those people gave me an opportunity to explain myself and also an opportunity to try to get on the same track.

“At the end of the day, though, some people are gonna like you, and some people aren’t. And I’m OK with that. Some reporters are gonna like you, some reporters aren’t. Some players are gonna like you, and some players aren’t. But I would hope there would be a mutual level of respect; a level of respect with the media, a level of respect with the coaches and also the players. And you know, when it’s all said and done, I think the players understand that we, as a coaching staff, are trying to put them in the best possible position to go out there and execute.

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“And then from a coaching perspective, I only want people around me that are going to tell me the truth. I don’t want to be trapped in an echo chamber or things like that, because we all have blind spots. Chris (Ryan), you have a blind spot, I’m sure. I’m sure you didn’t know that there are things that you need to improve on, things that you just don’t know that you need to improve on.
But you would hope that through building relationships, that people were very open about it, having those 1-on-1 conversations.

“But honestly, when those sources come out, it’s like, you look around, like, ‘Who would say something like that?’ But at the end of the day, it is what it is, and I’ve taken that in and tried to absorb it. (I) went through the whole emotional roller coaster and (am) trying to push forward. ”

Mayo and the Patriots are currently preparing for their season finale against the Jets. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Gillette Stadium.