NFL
By Steve Atkinson
Let’s revisit the end of the 2022 season when the Kraft’s released a statement. The Patriots were actively looking for an offensive coordinator and had extended Jerod Mayo’s contract. What wasn’t mentioned in the statement was that they included a provision in Mayo’s contract stating he would be the next head coach of the Patriots. This information eventually reached Bill Belichick, and in 2023, he essentially gave up, hiring Bill O’Brien as the offensive coordinator and not even communicating with Jerod Mayo. After a disappointing season where the Patriots finished 4-13, Belichick was fired. Because of the provision in Mayo’s contract, the Kraft’s were not required to adhere to the Rooney Rule when hiring a new head coach, so they appointed Mayo.
The Patriots Inducted Mike Vrabel into the team Hall Of Fame in 2023
During the 2023 season, the Patriots inducted Mike Vrabel into their Hall of Fame, although he was still the head coach of the Tennessee Titans at the time. The Titans were unhappy with how Vrabel conducted himself during his speech, in which he suggested that the Patriots were different from other teams in the league. The same year the Krafts fired Belichick, the Titans let Vrabel go. The reason Vrabel didn’t secure a head coaching position in 2024 was that he was aware the Patriots job was a potential opportunity for him.
Patriots Couldn’t Hire Mike Vrabel in 2024
The Patriots couldn’t hire Vrabel in 2024 unless they bought out Jerod Mayo’s contract, which would have required paying Mayo $10 million after promising him the job. That would have reflected poorly on the Krafts, so they likely advised Vrabel to wait. In the meantime, Vrabel took a consulting job with the Browns while observing the Patriots struggle from a distance. Meanwhile, Jerod Mayo received little support from his inexperienced coaching staff, which consisted of first-year coaches.
The Friday before the end of the season, Vrabel ensured that the Patriots knew he was interested in the job by interviewing for the Jets. This irritated the Krafts, and 90 minutes after the regular season finale on Sunday, they fired Mayo. On Monday, Robert Kraft took responsibility for hiring Mayo and set up some token interviews on Tuesday to satisfy the Rooney Rule requirements.
The Kraft’s Wanted Mike Vrabel All Along
The Kraft’s realized how poor that looked, so they requested an interview with Aaron Glenn from Detroit, but he declined. They then interviewed their preferred candidate, Mike Vrabel, on Thursday, followed by Brian Johnson on Friday. However, it was clear that before the season ended, they knew who they truly wanted. Vrabel was announced as the new head coach on Sunday and was introduced the following Monday. Are we going to forget how we got here?
The Kraft’s just wasted a whole year on Drake Maye to fulfill a requirement. Was the Mayo hire genuine or so they wouldn’t have to pay him $10 million? Forget the skin color what they did to Mayo and not giving him no expenericed assistants was outright wrong. Just take the hit and hire Vrabel a year ago with the number 3 pick.
Bill Belichick of course loves the Vrabel hire but I can tell you if Vrabel was hired last year Belichick wouldn’t have liked it because he took his job. But because Vrabel came after Mayo it’s okay. Compete fraud Bill is good luck in the potato bowl with your buddies Patricia and Michael Lombardi.
I’m not sure how Vrabel will do yet they need talent on the bad offensive line a receivers like they’ve needed for the last 4 years.
