Regarding remarks he made to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley during last Sunday’s game, safety Jabrill Peppers of the New England Patriots apologized to his teammates on Friday and acknowledged the disruption it caused. After the Patriots’ 10-7 defeat to the Giants, Peppers went over to his old teammate Barkley. An NFL Films microphone captured Peppers stating, “You lucky we ass.”
Peppers addressed the matter on Friday after the comment got significant momentum on social media. “I just want to apologize to my teammates and coaches for even having to answer questions about that,” Peppers said. He focused on the team’s 2-9 record, calling attention to the more serious problems, such as their poor play and having a top-5 pick in the next draft.
Barkley’s teammate Peppers, who was a member of the Giants from 2019 to 2021, recognized his leadership role and stated that he wanted to be part of the solution. Though he did not take back his on-field statement, he did express regret that it was made public. He emphasized his professionalism and accepted full responsibility for the circumstances.
When looking back on the difficult season the Patriots had, Peppers bemoaned the team’s inconsistent execution and praised head coach Bill Belichick and the coaching staff for their game preparations. Although he noted that the club had some excellent players in the locker room, he emphasized that a team’s ability to execute is what really matters. Peppers praised his teammates’ character despite the team’s challenges, saying that everyone is committed to raising the team’s performance.
Looking ahead, the Patriots are set to host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
