Rey Maualuga has said that he will ignore the critics as he prepares for his fifth season in the NFL.

The Cincinnati Bengals linebacker was handed a new two-year contract with the AFC North side earlier this year, despite his performance in last year's playoffs coming in for criticism.

The 26-year-old told the Bengals' official website: "I'm not going to go to another team because I didn't feel welcome by the fans. If they could do it better than I could they'd be in my position.

"If the coaches didn't want me here, I would not be here. I could give a rat's ass about the critics. All I can do is play. Give me a call and I'll go out and execute to the best of my ability.

"I haven't been to another team, so I don't know how it feels. But the guys who come here from other teams say the locker room and the camaraderie is like no other. It's different. I'm here for two years until they cut me and try to be the best middle linebacker I can be."

Maualuga made 122 tackles and one sack for the Bengals in 2012.