ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Reacts to New England Patriots Firing Head Coach Jerod Mayo
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith lamented on “First Take” that New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo didn’t get enough of an opportunity to develop as a head coach and lead the team. Smith attributed the decision to the availability of Mike Vrabel on the coaching market, saying “This is about Mike Vrabel. That’s who they wanted. No question about it.”
Smith also pointed out that Mayo didn’t get a lengthy enough opportunity to turn the team around, considering the record and performance of the team under his leadership. He added that the Patriots’ top brass “turned” on Mayo over the course of the season, partly due to comments he made about the team being “soft”.
The Patriots were 4-13 in Mayo’s lone season, and owner Robert Kraft announced the decision after the team’s final game of the season. Kraft said that the move comes as he feels the fans deserve a better product on the field moving forward, and that the decision was the best option to expedite the team’s return to championship contention.
Smith also criticized the decision, saying that it typifies “Black Monday” and that the Patriots are trying to prevent Vrabel from leaving to join another team, such as the New York Jets.
