Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers apologizes for comment he made to Saquon Barkley after New England's loss to Giants: 'You lucky we a**'

New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers apologized to his teammates for comments he was heard making to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

Following last weekend's loss, Peppers was overheard by a microphone telling Barkley 'you lucky we a**,' as the two players exchanged a hug after the Giants won the game 10-7.

The clip went viral on social media and on Friday Peppers addressed his remarks.

'I just want to apologize to my teammates and coaches for even having to answer questions about that,' Peppers said. 

'We have more important things to worry about than me being quoted on a hot mic. At the end of the day, we're 2-9, we have a top-5 pick in the draft that didn't come via trade and we all know the standard. We all know what it's supposed to look like, and it's not that right now.

'It's not no shot at anybody in the locker room. I said 'we.' We own that. I own that.'

Peppers and Barkley played together when the 28-year-old safety was a member of the Giants from 2019-2021. 

So far during his second season with the Patriots, Peppers has recorded 62 tackles, six pass deflections, and one interception while playing in 94.9 per cent of the defensive snaps.

'I'm a professional, so things like that should never happen,' Peppers said. 

'No need to blame anyone but myself. This is my seventh year in the league, I'm 28 years old, I know better.'

'That was a little frustration. I know I'm smiling but I was very, very angry. That's one (result) that I wanted, but at the end of the day, we're not doing enough to get it done right now.' 

He added: 'The guys in here, they know me. I speak my mind. I got caught in the hot mic and I didn't even give Saquon a chance to tell me (he was wearing it). 

'I don't think it was right they put that out, because a lot of things get said on that football field and I know there are multiple people mic'd up game in and game out that they don't put on. I was kind of taken aback by that, but at the end of the day I own that. I own everything I say and I'm not running from it.' 

Peppers also took time to credit head coach Bill Belichick and the coaching staff, when he called Belichick 'one of the best coaches to ever coach.'