Patriots players send strong message to Robert Kraft after another brutal loss

Expectations for the Patriots 2024 season were low, given that they're in the middle of a projected multi-year rebuild led by an inexperienced coaching staff, but seeing the team be in the same position it was a year ago, with demands for several personnel to be fired is not something Robert Kraft was hoping for.

The drama continues to follow this team after Kraft surprised everyone by deciding to move on from Bill Belichick after nearly a quarter century despite all he accomplished during his notable tenure. That was a big reason Kraft seemingly decided who his successor would be long ago, declaring Jerod Mayo as the guy whenever Belichick hung it up.

That was certainly great in theory, but they have failed to deliver a better season than what we've seen over the last two years, which is seeming to frustrate the players now, too.

That's never a good sign for ownership hoping to successfully put the right people in place to turn the franchise around and get back to what they were once known for. It goes beyond hearing from the local media and the fans and this time, Kraft cannot continue to ignore what's being said coming from inside the building.

Patriots players serve a plate of reality to Robert Kraft after a brutal loss to the Chargers

Among the more outspoken players as of late has been defensive end Keion White, who created more headlines with his post-game comments to reporters.

Besides reflecting upon his own performance and wanting to be better, the second-year defender doesn't see much positives to come for the Patriots if changes aren't made. While he didn't specify what kind of changes, whether to the roster or the coaching staff, it's still significant to hear this kind of talk from a player who was supposed to be a foundational piece of the team moving forward.

Unfortunately for Kraft, White wasn't the only one to emphasize changes after the loss on Saturday.

Standout receiver DeMario Douglas echoed the sentiment as well, stressing his desire not to be part of a team that continues to lose like the Patriots have since he was drafted last year. They're now on track to have a worse record in 2024 than in 2023, which led to Belichick's firing in the offseason and could lead to similar changes come January.

When the complaints come from inside the house, there's no room for the higher-ups in Foxboro to ignore what's being said. Tuning out the media or what the fans are saying is one thing, even if it's not the smartest thing to do, but when players are expressing their frustration in this way, especially those who performed well under Belichick, it's time to seriously consider making the changes.

With just one game left to be played, it's unlikely we'll see Kraft make any sudden decision before the season is officially over. There's a lot he will need to look over regarding the state of the coaching staff and whether moving on from Mayo and/or other coaches is the right move.

He will also need to look ahead to who might be replacement candidates if he does let Mayo or a coordinator go, as properly planning for the future is crucial especially with what appears to be a franchise quarterback on the roster.

Will Kraft make the right choice? Will he show loyalty to the New England Patriots or to Jerod Mayo?

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