Bill Belichick on a Patriots-fueled rampage after Robert Kraft's new interview

It has been a rough week for everyone in Foxboro after suffering one of the worst losses in recent memory on Sunday to the Jaguars. That prompted head coach Jerod Mayo to air his frustrations to the media during his post-game availability, and those comments have caught a lot of fire in the days since.

His assertion that the Patriots are a "soft football team" has gone viral and has been the most discussed topic this week, forcing Mayo to backtrack on what he said. While he wasn't entirely wrong with his assessment, it likely wasn't the time or place to make such a statement, especially when there were rumors of a mutiny going on in the locker room.

However, the comment has taken on a mind of its own and garnered reactions from anyone and everyone, including Bill Belichick, who, up until this past week, mainly had remained mum about his former team.

Given his many platforms as a member of the NFL media, it hasn't been easy for Belichick to avoid saying much about how poorly the Patriots have played over the last six weeks. He has tried his best to do so, with limited criticism being the most memorable so far. But that has since changed, with the presumed reasoning being a new interview by Robert Kraft.

Bill Belichick is not hiding his disdain for the Patriots any longer

It's no secret that Belichick and Kraft had a contentious relationship near the end of the coach's tenure in New England. It was rumored to be one of the primary reasons he was let go this past offseason, and it has seemed to be confirmed in the months since based on Kraft's behavior and comments.

The Patriots owner has not hidden his frustrated feelings about the longtime head coach and what led to his decision to fire him, even discussing that things had been troubled since Tom Brady decided to leave the team in 2020.

Kraft has discussed the situation a lot over the past nine months and was a bit more candid in his most recent interview with The Breakfast Club last week, which seems to have caught Belichick's attention.

Based on the uptick of his criticism for the Patriots, it's fair to assume that he has not taken too kindly to what Kraft has said regarding their relationship and the end of his time in New England, leading to the seemingly continued warpath against his former team this week.

It started with his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday when he really took it to Mayo over the "soft football team" comments. On Tuesday, he doubled down on his feelings during the "Let's Go!" podcast with Brady and Jim Gray.

It might not be the harshest criticism, but it's still noteworthy, given how much he avoided talking about the Patriots in general until this past week.

Because his and Kraft's relationship is reportedly at the worst it's ever been, it wouldn't be shocking if that is what is fueling Belichick's decision to go after them now, warranted or not.

How it progresses from here will provide clues as to whether Kraft's comments have anything to do with it or if he's just saying what many are thinking, which will make the season even more interesting than it already has been.

More Patriots news and analysis: