The New England Patriots fired former head coach Jerod Mayo just hours after their season-ending victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which reportedly led to questions about the timing of the entire process.
ESPN's Mike Reiss reported Sunday that some coaches and players were surprised when Mayo was fired considering "many were still at the facility with family members."
Team sources told Reiss that some questioned owner Robert Kraft about it during the Patriots' final meeting of the campaign.
Kraft released a statement at the time of the firing, calling it "one of the hardest decisions I have ever made" while praising Mayo for "his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community.