ORLANDO, Fla. — Two months ago, Jerod Mayo claimed the Patriots were ready to “burn some cash” in free agency.

Nowadays, fans are wondering if the Patriots will ever get around to lighting a match.

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Mayo, speaking Monday morning at the NFL Annual Meeting, has heard their cries. While he said he has no regrets about his cash comments, the Patriots’ young head coach did expound on those remarks and spoke directly to fans about their frustration.

“No, I don’t regret it. Look, I’m a first-year head coach. I didn’t mean, like, burn some cash. I know we have a lot of cash to utilize, but we are going to utilize it the right way,” Mayo said. “We have to be very convicted when we do spend that cash. But ownership has done a good job of just letting Eliot and I know that we have the cash to spend — just try to spend it smart.”

As for his message to fans underwhelmed by the team’s free agency, Mayo said: “For Patriot fans, look, I understand the frustration. I understand the expectation that was really built over the last 20 years. But at the same time, hopefully the fans understand that we’re trying to build this the right way. And we’re trying to bring in pieces that we think are for the long-term. I think there’s a combination between bringing people in for the short-term, and you also have to think long-term and that’s always a hard thing to do.

“I would just ask Patriots fans for patience. Once again there will be players that hit the wire, free agents — guys that are explosive, whatever you want to say — there will be guys in the draft, there will be guys after the draft. So just kind of sit back and let us do our jobs going forward.”

As of Monday morning, the Patriots ranked 25th in cash spending for 2024, 31st in cash committed for 2025 and 26th for the 2026 season.