Stephen A. Smith believes Jerod Mayo was unfairly fired by the Patriots because New England was too afraid of missing out on Mike Vrabel.
“I don't like this,” Smith said of the Patriots' decision to replace Mayo just minutes after their final-day victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Mayo was only given one season in charge of New England after replacing legendary coach Bill Belichick.
Owner Robert Kraft said firing Mayo was 'one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made.' The win against Buffalo cost the Patriots the No. 1 pick in the draft and dropped them to 4-13 on the season.
But Smith believes the real reason the Patriots “turned on” Mayo is their desire to prevent former Titans coach Vrabel from leaving with a rival like the Jets.
The ESPN analyst also brought up the name 'Black Monday', the first day after the end of the regular season in which many coaches lose their jobs.
Stephen A. Smith believes Jerod Mayo was unfairly fired by the New England Patriots
'This is Mike Vrabel. “That's what they wanted, there's no doubt about it,” the ESPN analyst said.
'They call it Black Monday for a reason: this certainly exemplifies it. I don't know why it's not called White Monday,' he said before noting that Doug Pederson was fired by the Jaguars.
“He deserved it,” Smith said in Monday's first take.
“Clearly Jerod Mayo wasn't given a long enough chance, considering what Bill Belichick left him from a talent perspective.”
'This is Mike Vrabel. That's what they wanted, there's no doubt about that, and he's a more experienced and experienced coach.
“I don't like this… (Mayo) wasn't helped by some of the comments he made – calling the team 'soft' and whatever – and having to retract statements.
'We understand all that. But no matter what we may point out, at the end of the day, the people of New England were turning against Jerod Mayo. We all know it.'
Added Smith: “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.