FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Robert Kraft believed he had found the ideal candidate in Jerod Mayo to continue the winning tradition established by Bill Belichick when he hired him a year ago. Looking back, Kraft now acknowledges that Mayo may not have been fully prepared to take on the role of an NFL head coach.
Kraft expressed regret for the sudden dismissal of Mayo just moments after he completed his first season, admitting that he made a mistake by putting Mayo in a challenging position. Despite recognizing Mayo’s potential as a head coach, Kraft feels that Mayo needed more time to develop before assuming the position.
The decision to let Mayo go was not influenced by the Patriots’ recent victory over Buffalo, which cost them the top pick in the upcoming draft. Kraft explained that Mayo’s performance declined following a promising start to the season, and there was a lack of improvement as the season progressed.
In light of two disappointing seasons, Kraft, a devoted fan of the team, is determined to restore the Patriots to championship contention. He plans to swiftly begin the search for a new head coach, emphasizing the appeal of the job given the team’s draft pick, promising quarterback, and ample salary cap space.
While changes in the front office are not on the immediate agenda, Kraft confirmed that key personnel executives will remain in their roles. The coaching search will involve input from various executives, including Kraft’s son and team president Jonathan Kraft.
While former Patriots player and ex-Titans coach Mike Vrabel is rumored as a potential candidate, Kraft declined to confirm his status on the list. As players gathered their belongings for the offseason, many expressed surprise and sadness over Mayo’s departure, praising him as a respected leader and coach.
The Patriots are focused on the future, determined to make the necessary adjustments to regain their winning ways under new leadership.
Davon Godchaux acknowledged the harsh reality of the NFL, emphasizing that a mere change in coaching staff will not be sufficient to catalyze a turnaround for the team. “I feel like everybody being accountable. Everybody. Players. Coaches — everybody,” Godchaux articulated. “If we can do that, things will start moving forward. Until then, we’ve got a long journey.”
Source: AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
