Patriots assistant coach Jerod Mayo didn't hold back when talking to reporters on Tuesday morning about a recent report that aimed at his character. 

The report explained that Mayo had reportedly rubbed some people the “wrong way” since signing a contract extension last offseason. 

And he not only confirmed he read the reports, but also had a thoughtful response.

Mayo is one of the top candidates reportedly to replace Bill Belichick if the Patriots decide to move on. 

Here is everything he said on the report: 

"I appreciate you asking that. Honestly, I try to stay out of reading a lot of the articles and things during the year. Obviously, there are ups and downs and seasonality that kind of play a part in life and also in football. Honestly, when that report came out, my brother sent it to me — it was more hurtful than anything. I found it to be, well, the timing was a little bit weird in my opinion. And, if that was the case, I feel like this would've been leaked sometime earlier. 

"At the same time, I try to treat everyone the same way. And I will say this: I thought about it for a while. When people talk about 'rubbing people the wrong way' — obviously, sometimes, that's part of the job of being a leader, is to rub people the wrong way. And I always try to be 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 expect to be the best that you can be? And I would say anytime there's change or anything like that, like, it's gonna be painful. 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 is trying to say. 

"So, it actually helped me — it kind of triggered a period of self-reflection. And 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 at the end of the day, hopefully, whoever put that story out is man or woman enough to bring to my attention to have a conversation."

Here is everything he said on how he processed the report: 

"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 alway 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 thought, 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 repsect with the media, a level of respect with the 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. 

"And then from a coaching perspective, I only want people around me that are going to tell me the trust. I don't want to be trapped in an echo chamber or things like that, because we all have blind spots. 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)."