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

‘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.’