Mark Schlereth links fan backlash over Bill Belichick comment to Patriots fans

Mark Schlereth is unhappy with the Patriots' fans for the kind of pushback he is getting for his comments on Bill Belichick. The legendary coach is reportedly dating 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, nearly 50 years his junior. And the former Washington and Denver player labeled the former New England coach a 'pig'.

Addressing that controversy on his radio show on Denver Sports 104.3, Schlereth said,

"Man, I tell you what you one innocent comment, you say something just off the cuff, you know, right off the top of your head. And the next thing you know, you're public enemy number one."

As his co-host, Mike Evans, listed the names of places from where they have heard back, he ended up using a derogatory term for the Patriots fans. And Mark Schlereth fully endorsed it, saying,

"Yeah, you can say Massh*les... Oh, they are coming after me."

Mark Schlereth moves past Bill Belichick saga with hilarious anecdote

But it was clear that Mark Schlereth was not willing to dwell on the fallout of his Bill Belichick comment for too long. Instead, he went back to a time from his playing days. Even though he did not mention the year he was referring to, it was clear that this was a time before, or just after, Bill Belichick took up residence in Foxborough since the former Super Bowl-winning guard retired in 2001.

He recounted irritating his Broncos offensive line colleague Tom Nalen, who was from Foxborough, with questions about the various places on their travel path to a Patriots game. Mark Schlereth said,

"So, I sat right behind Tommy (Tom Nalen) all the way to Foxborough and everything that we pass by, like there's a garage, 'Did you ever take your car to get serviced at that garage time?'... Then we drive. I said, 'You ever eat at that diner, Tom?'"

He even gave a sampling of some of the questions he asked on that route from Providence to Foxborough, commenting,

"The whole way for an hour and 45 minutes... 'Have you ever been there, Tommy? You ever been there? Did you go to that pizza shop? Did you ever go? We have pizza at that place, Tommy. Did you get your haircut there, Tommy? Tommy, we're in Worcester. There's a convenience store. You ever buy a toaster at the convenience store in Worcester?'... Two hours, just irritate. Like to the point he turns around, shut the f*ck up."

The Patriots fans' current response to his comment about Bill Belichick's response might have him riled, but Mark Schlereth still has some fond memories of the time they went playing in New England.