FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots ultimately made the right decision, but don’t we all think the last few days could have been avoided entirely?
New England moved on from head coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday, just minutes after ending the season with an unfortunate victory over the Buffalo Bills. Patriots owner Robert Kraft — in pulling the plug after what had become a disastrous season — essentially confirmed the answer to our question.
Kraft made one of the worst decisions in franchise history, and he knows it.
“I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation,” Kraft said on Monday, addressing media members for the first time since the decision. “I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job… I feel for Jerod and the human being he is. I felt guilty I put him in that position, but we’re moving on.”
Mayo’s appointment to the role produced red flags from day one, as the reasoning lacked football sense. The Patriots were replacing the most decorated coach in history with someone who earned the job in part due to leadership skills shown at an airport.
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Yes, that’s seriously the story they told.
Mayo simply wasn’t ready and was placed in a situation where success would have been a miracle.
Kraft now has to go out and pick the next guy, and you can bet the final decision will ultimately be his. The Patriots just have to hope he can get it right, because as he already admitted, that season-long debacle was all on him.
Featured image via Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports Images
