New England Patriots' longtime owner Robert Kraft was pointing the finger at himself after another 4-13 season, while explaining his firing of Jerod Mayo.

When Robert Kraft hired Jerod Mayo a year ago, he felt he’d identified the right person to follow Bill Belichick.

Kraft did the only thing he could do after the Jerod Mayo firing. He took blame for the "situation" and set out to fix his fallen franchise.

Robert Kraft showed no shame in taking full ownership of how New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo's first and only season at the helm shook out. Kraft, the New England Patriots CEO and Chairman, addressed the press on Monday to discuss the firing of Mayo along with fielding questions on other topics within the organization.

Watch Patriots CEO and chairman Robert Kraft's press conference after decision to fire New England head coach Jerod Mayo.

The fact that Vrabel was available made the best choice an easy one. Kraft hasn’t run an actual coaching search since 1997 when he hired Pete Carroll. The two hires that followed — Bill Belichick in 2000 and Jerod Mayo last year — were both examples of Kraft selecting people who he already knew, liked and trusted.

The Patriots turned to Vrabel after their quick coaching search wrapped up just seven days after the team fired Jerod Mayo.

Mayo, named Bill Belichick’s successor a year ago, was fired on Sunday after the Patriots’ 23-16 win over the Bills in the regular-season finale. The former Patriots linebacker, 38, posted a 4-13 record as head coach. Kraft added Monday he “went back and forth” on the situation over the past month.

Robert Kraft had some interesting comments when it comes to the Patriots rumored interest in Mike Vrabel.

After trying to move on from the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots are now going right back to a successor much more like him.

Bill Simmons sounded off on Patriots owner Robert Kraft for his decisions that led to the team blowing the No. 1 overall pick.

During a midday press conference Monday, the Patriots’ owner said the team has already extended multiple interview requests to head-coaching candidates. Kraft, team president Jonathan Kraft, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith will conduct the interviews.