Rob Gronkowski criticizes the Patriots for “unfairly” firing Jerod Mayo

Patriots

Former Patriots Tight end Rob Gronkowski sharply criticized his former team for firing coach Jerod Mayo.

Mayo only stayed as head coach in New England for one season. He was fired almost immediately after the Patriots' victory over the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's season finale.

The Patriots went 4-13 this season under Mayo, the identical record as last 12 months Bill Belichickwho was also fired.

Robert Kraft's decision to fireside Mayo so quickly after choosing him as Belichick's successor surprised some, including Gronkowski.

“That shocked me, and the fact that it was about to happen was a shock to a lot of people, especially here at this desk.” Gronkowski said during NFL on FOX. “That surprised us all. I think it was unfair to coach Jerod Mayo. He never had the chance to develop as a head coach. He was a rookie himself in that regard, and judging a coach based on his first year is really not appropriate.”

FOX went to a business before Gronkowski could finish his comments. He was bringing up some extent about fellow panelist Jimmy Johnson, who won two Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys after going 1-15 in his first season, when Michael Strahan told him the network needed to fold.

Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as a head coach, finished 6-10 in his first season with the Cleveland Browns. Four of his five seasons in Cleveland were losing seasons. He also went 5-11 in his first season with the Patriots in 2000 before coaching the franchise to its first Super Bowl title the next 12 months.

Mayo didn't get a second likelihood with the franchise where he spent his entire playing profession. Kraft released a letter to fans explaining the firing on the identical day because the season finale. Kraft said this move was the perfect choice to get the Patriots back into the playoffs.

While their record was the identical as last 12 months, the Patriots showed some signs of regression under Mayo.

The Patriots had the No. 1 run defense within the NFL last 12 months in yards per carry. They have slipped into midfield this season. They looked sloppy and undisciplined a lot of the 12 months, with quite a few pre-snap penalties. Off the sector, there have been multiple clashes between players and law enforcement. Mayo had several embarrassing moments in the course of the press conferences.

But there have been also signs of improvement. The offense, which featured a patchwork offensive line consisting mostly of rookies and journeymen, improved barely. quarterback Drake Maye gave the impression to be developing well. The Patriots defeated two teams with rather more talent (Cincinnati and Buffalo) once they weren’t at their best.

Still, the organization decided to chop its losses and move on from Mayo without considering whether he could improve with a second 12 months under his belt.

Mayo is the Patriots' third head coach to serve for lower than a season.

Phil Bengtson went 1-4 as interim coach after replacing John Mazur in 1972 before being named the team's director of professional scouting. Rod Rust was fired after going 1-15 in 1990. Mayo is the one certainly one of the three to have won multiple games.

New England likely felt a way of urgency to make a giant move after enduring several losing seasons at the top of the Belichick era and recruited a possible franchise quarterback in Drake Maye.

They responded to that feeling and the change got here quickly.