"Dumbest thing I've ever heard" - Ex-Patriots TE lashes out against social media account calling for Jerod Mayo's head

Jerod Mayo is under fire at the New England Patriots. In his first season as the head coach of the franchise, the Patriots have a 3-9 record, and not much to be hopeful for with the exception of quarterback Drake Maye. They have the worst offense in the AFC, averaging just 16.6 points per game.

Mayo gave a controversial statement following New England's 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, stating that "once those guys cross the white line, there's nothing I can do for them." He was met with widespread criticism, with many fans calling him out, especially for the lack of preparation for games.

But that doesn't mean that he has no one in his corner. Former New England Patriots Christian Fauria, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the franchise in 2003 and 2004, has backed Mayo's statements, even calling out famous NFL account Dov Kleiman for saying that the coach "should be fired ASAP":

“There are some people out there that want him fired. Dov Kleiman, whatever the hell your name is, you say “Awful, fire him instantly,” why would you fire him instantly? What did he say that isn’t true? Once the play is called, that’s it. There’s nothing the coach can do for them.

"The coach’s job is done. It’s done, there’s nothing else he can do for them. So Jerod Mayo gives you some honesty, some truth, and you want to fire him? That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. At some point, the players need to be held accountable.”

It's unclear how safe the head coach is on his job, but his affection for the franchise and his relationship with owner Robert Kraft could help him earn a second season.

Jerod Mayo's playing career: Patriots head coach shone as a linebacker during his career

Since getting to the NFL, he has been fully involved with New England. He was the 10th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft and played until 2015 in the league, all with the Patriots.

After retiring, he spent three years away from the NFL but returned to the team in 2019 as the inside linebackers coach, a position he held until 2023. After Bill Belichick, his former head coach, left the franchise, he was named the new leader.