Furious Stephen A. Smith reveals the real reason Jerod Mayo was fired by the Patriots on eve of ‘Black Monday’

Furious Stephen A. Smith reveals the real reason Jerod Mayo was fired by the Patriots on eve of 'Black Monday'

Stephen A. Smith believes Jerod Mayo was unfairly fired by the Patriots because New England was too scared of missing out on Mike Vrabel.

‘I don’t like this,’ Smith said about the Patriots’ decision to replace Mayo just minutes after their final-day win over the Buffalo Bills.

Mayo was given only one season in charge in New England after taking over from legendary coach Bill Belichick.

Owner Robert Kraft said firing Mayo was ‘one of the hardest decisions I have ever made’. The win against Buffalo cost the Patriots the No 1 draft pick and left them 4-13 for the season.

But Smith believes the real reason the Patriots’ ‘turned against’ Mayo is their desire to prevent ex-тιтans coach Vrabel going to a rival such as the Jets.

The ESPN analyst also brought up the name ‘Black Monday’, the first day after the end of the regular season when many coaches lose their jobs.

Stephen A. Smith believes Jerod Mayo was unfairly fired by the New England Patriots

Stephen A. Smith believes Jerod Mayo was unfairly fired by the New England Patriots

Mike Vrabel Jerod Mayo

‘It’s about Mike Vrabel. That’s who they wanted – no question about it,’ the ESPN analyst said

‘They call it Black Monday for a reason – this certainly typifies it. I don’t know why it’s not called White Monday,’ he said before pointing out that Doug Pederson was fired by the Jaguars.

‘He deserved that,’ Smith said on Monday’s First Take. 

‘Jerod Mayo clearly was not given a lengthy enough opportunity, considering what Bill Belichick left him with from a talent perspective.’

‘It’s about Mike Vrabel. That’s who they wanted – no question about it – and he’s a more seasoned, more experienced coach.

‘I don’t like this.. (Mayo) didn’t help himself with some of the comments he made – calling the team “soft” and what have you – and having to retract statements.

‘We get all of that. But no matter what we can point to, at the end of the day, the folks in New England were turning against Jerod Mayo. We all know this.’

Smith added: ‘Vrabel is available and that’s really what’s going on here. They didn’t want to lose him, especially to a team like the New York Jets.’

Related Posts

Travis Kelce confirms June appearace at huge Nashville event after skipping Met Gala with Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce confirms June appearace at huge Nashville event after skipping Met Gala with Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce will make an offseason appearance at тιԍнт End University, the three-day program founded by himself, George Kittle and ex-NFL star Greg Olsen. The organization has…

Fresh blow for Shedeur Sanders as Cleveland Browns hands rookie quarterback his first setback

Fresh blow for Shedeur Sanders as Cleveland Browns hands rookie quarterback his first setback

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders is facing life as an NFL rookie without the perks he could have expected as a first-round pick. Rather, the 23-year-old fifth-round…

Michael Strahan eyes shock NFL return with the New York Giants

Michael Strahan eyes shock NFL return with the New York Giants

Tom Brady may not be the only NFL analyst with a stake in one of the league’s 32 teams. As reported by Sportico, Fox Sports’ Michael Strahan…

How Bill Belichick’s blistering email ‘explains’ Patriots rift with Tom Brady after being leaked by Jordon Hudson

How Bill Belichick’s blistering email ‘explains’ Patriots rift with Tom Brady after being leaked by Jordon Hudson

The furious Bill Belichick email that was leaked by girlfriend Jordon Hudson following his train-wreck CBS interview sheds light on the coach’s rift with Tom Brady and the quarterback’s 2020 departure from New…

Travis Hunter gives brutal verdict on controversial fiancée’s ,000 NFL Draft gift

Travis Hunter gives brutal verdict on controversial fiancée’s $30,000 NFL Draft gift

Travis Hunter recently received a lavish NFL Draft gift from his fiancée, but the new Jaguars rookie had a surprising opinion on the piece of jewelry. Hunter’s…

Donald Trump’s budget cuts could impact NFL by eliminating concussion programs for youth, high-school football

Donald Trump’s budget cuts could impact NFL by eliminating concussion programs for youth, high-school football

Donald Trump’s 2026 fiscal budget aims to eliminate the Centers for Disease Control department in charge of traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and education along with $8.3…