Broncos DE Derek Wolfe Says He Hates Everything About the Patriots

In the days before the two teams match up in the AFC Championship Game, members of the Denver Broncos defense have been going after the New England Patriots.

On Friday, it was defensive end Derek Wolfe, who spoke with Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.

"I hate everything about them," he said. "They're always in my way. They're always in my way to get what I want."

It's one thing to dislike a team, but there haven't been too many instances during Wolfe's four years in the NFL in which New England got in his way. In five meetings since his rookie season, the Broncos are 2-3 against the Patriots, but in their one playoff meeting, the 2013 AFC Championship Game, Denver won. 

Nonetheless, the hatred runs deep for Wolfe, per Jhabvala:

"

I've got a ton of respect for the whole organization. They've got great players—Tom Brady's a great player. Bill Belichick's a great coach. I've got a ton of respect for them. I just hate them.

"

Wolfe is just one of a few Broncos defenders who have gone after the Patriots in the week leading up to the conference championship game. 

Per Paul Klee of the Gazette, defensive lineman Antonio Smith told reporters it "would be an accurate statement" to label New England quarterback Tom Brady a crybaby.  

Defensive lineman Malik Jackson told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Brady is a "whiner" and that he "threw some temper tantrums" when the two teams faced off in Week 12.

One member of the defense even went after the best tight end in the game, Rob Gronkowski. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. told SportsCenter (h/t ESPN.com) that in order to tackle Gronkowski, the defense would have to go after his knees, which prompted Gronkowski to respond with a double entendre via Twitter. 

Linebacker Brandon Marshall told Pro Football Talk Live, via Florio, that Gronkowski "pushes off, and he gets away with it about 98 percent of the time."

Providing bulletin-board material for the defending Super Bowl champions probably isn't a good idea. With one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks ever throwing to one of the game's top tight ends, it might not matter how good Denver's defense is. 

Wolfe and his teammates could come to regret their comments come Sunday.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.