Mayo: Patriots' defense is better than you think

Worried about the Patriots' defense? Don't be, says Jerod Mayo.

"I think we are better than you think," Mayo told Tom E. Curran during their weekly Quick Slants interview. "The first two games of the preseason [against New Orleans and Atlanta] we went out there and had great series against both teams, which [had] great offenses."

Or, adds Mayo, maybe you should keep badmouthing the defense.

"[We] use that stuff, the negativity, as motivation," he said. "We've been using it each and every day. Hopefully, we can prove it Sunday."

Other highlights of this week's interview:

ON GOING OUT FOR THE COIN FLIP BY HIMSELF, WHICH HE DID THROUGHOUT HE PRESEASON:
"It is very lonely. Sometimes I want [other Patriots captains] to come out with me. But the hardest part is remembering which side we want to kick off on, the decision that the coach wants to do. When you're out there by yourself, that's kind of hard."

ON WHY HE'S BEEN SENT OUT ALONE:
"I'm not sure. We were doing a walkthrough before the first preseason game and Bill [Belichick] told me just to go out there and try to simulate the game atmosphere. I went out there by myself and through Week Four through the preseason, I kept doing it. Hopefully during the regular season, I won't have to go out there by myself."

ON WHETHER HE CALLS HEADS OR TAILS:
"Tails. Tails never fails."

ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT, THE BENGALS:
"First and foremost, we have to stop the run. Cedric Benson had a huge year for them last year. [Bernard] Scott, the second-string running back, he's a great running back, as well. But they've added a lot of firepower, as well, getting Terrell Owens; the tight end, [Jermaine] Gresham. Those guys, they swept their [AFC North] division last year. That's huge. That's tough to do. They swept the division and they've added pieces. It'll be a tough game."

ON PRACTICE:
"You try to make practice harder than the actual game. That's what we're trying to do. Coach Belichick tries to put as much pressure as he can on us . . . mentally and physically."

ON RANDY MOSS:
"He's great as a teammate. He has a lot of negative media towards him and things like that, but he's a great guy. A great teammate. Everybody in the locker room loves him. You may not like to play against him, because he's such a great wide receiver, but he's a great guy. He adds an element to the team that is huge as far as attitude on the offensive side of the ball and just an overall motivator."

ON WHY MOSS HATES THE MEDIA:
"I don't think he hates you guys. I think sometimes he's been misquoted and things like that from stories in the past. Never from the Boston media, I'm sure."

ON THE HARDEST HE'S EVER BEEN HIT PLAYING FOOTBALL:
"Probably with no pads on in the middle of the street [from] one of my brothers, to be honest with you. Those are the hardest hits. I haven't really taken any hard hits in the NFL yet. Mostly given them. I'm sure one's going to come one day. One's going to come one day."