ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has voiced his disapproval of the New England Patriots' decision to dismiss head coach Jerod Mayo after just one season. Smith, speaking on "First Take," argued that Mayo wasn't afforded sufficient time to establish himself as a head coach and properly develop the team. He suggested that the availability of Mike Vrabel, a more seasoned coach, heavily influenced the Patriots' decision.
Smith believes the Patriots' front office had their sights set on Vrabel from the beginning, speculating that they didn't want to risk losing him to another team like the New York Jets. This desire to pursue Vrabel, Smith contends, ultimately led to Mayo's premature dismissal, despite the challenging circumstances he inherited from Bill Belichick.
While acknowledging that Mayo's comments about the team being "soft" might not have helped his case, Smith maintained that the organization's sentiment towards Mayo had shifted negatively throughout the season. He linked this shift to Vrabel's availability, suggesting the Patriots were already looking ahead to a potential coaching change.
In his single season at the helm, Mayo led the Patriots to a 4-13 record. Team owner Robert Kraft, in announcing the decision, described it as one of the most difficult he'd ever made, highlighting Mayo's long history with the organization and the respect he commanded both on and off the field. Kraft admitted that he had anticipated promoting Mayo to head coach for some time, fearing other teams would try to poach him.
Kraft explained that the decision stemmed from a desire to improve the team's performance and meet the expectations of the fans. He apologized for the team's recent struggles and stated that he believed replacing Mayo was the best course of action to return the Patriots to championship contention.
