The New England Patriots’ decision to fire head coach Jerod Mayo after only one season surprised many NFL fans and media. In the days since then, several stories from within the Patriots organization have surfaced in a bid to explain what went wrong.
Mayo’s wife, Chantel Rostant, has heard enough of those rumors. She vented her frustration Friday in an Instagram post, calling out “all the lies.”
“It never even crossed our minds to tell the truth… but I couldn’t even fathom all the lies we’ve read that are being told to save face. What happened to the class?????” Rostant wrote (via MassLive.com).
“We’ve been taking the high road and letting everyone do their thing since Sunday. But playing with someone’s name won’t be tolerated. I bet the fake stories will stop before the real ones start.”
Granted, the Patriots finished 4-13 this season, but Mayo took over a team in rebuild mode. Coaches are typically given more than one year in those circumstances. Many sports media personalities have ripped the team’s decision. Stephen A. Smith raised Mayo’s race as an issue, saying, “They call it Black Monday for a reason.”
Dan Patrick said the decision to fire Mayo means “the Patriot Way is done,” referring to the team’s steady culture during Bill Belichick’s lengthy tenure.
In short, the firing has been a bad look for the Patriots, especially given Mayo played eight seasons in New England. Hence, stories surfaced about life under Mayo. According to The Athletic’s Chad Graff, one involved Mayo’s plan to demote assistant coach Steve Belichick, who had been calling defensive plays the last several years. (Bill Belichick’s son left the team rather than accept his new role.)
Graff also reported team executives were miffed when Mayo played cards with his players on a flight home after a loss. The report also included quotes from team sources such as “I just don’t think (Mayo) was ready for all the big decisions and discipline and focus the job takes.”
It’s not unusual for stories such as this to arise after a coach is fired. Rostant seems to be implying they’re “lies,” and she has her own tales to share. This could get interesting.
