Michael Strahan leaves fans fuming with response to Rob Gronkowski ranting about New England Patriots

Michael Strahan infuriated fans when he awkwardly cut Fox Sports colleague Rob Gronkowski off while the New England Patriots legend was in full flow about his former team.

The legendary NFL tight end was responding to the news that the Patriots had fired head coach Jerod Mayo in the wake of the team’s win over the Buffalo Bills on the final day of the regular season.

‘I was shocked by that,’ Gronkowski said to begin his rant. ‘That it happened that soon was a shocker to a lot of people, especially here at the desk – we were all surprised by that. I think it was unfair to coach Jerod Mayo.

‘I mean, he had never had the chance to develop as a head coach. He was just a rookie himself in that department. If you judge a coach by their first year, that’s really not appropriate.

‘I mean, Jimmy Johnson, you went 1-15 in your first and then you won a couple of Super Bowls after that. I mean, he really-‘

At that moment, which was just over 30 seconds after being asked for his views, Strahan cut Gronkowski off and told his broadcast colleague they had to go to break.

Fans took to social media to call out Strahan and were angry that Gronkowski wasn’t allowed to continue.

One posted: ‘Strahan is a puppet’.

Another added: ‘Strahan the company man. Keep cashing them checks’.

A third wrote: ‘Gronk was about to go in  on the Krafts before Fox pulled it and went to break.’

‘Gronk is going off script to tell you how he really feels, and the network definitely didn’t want that.’ 

It is not the first time Strahan has caused controversy while covering the NFL for Fox this season.

Back in November he was fiercely criticized after failing to put his hand over his heart during the national anthem at a live show from the San Diego Naval Base before Veterans Day.

The former New York Giants star even lashed out when asked by DailyMail.com for a comment on the situation in the aftermath, snatching and throwing our reporter’s phone.

The Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo in the wake of the team’s win over the Buffalo Bills

When Strahan finally spoke out, he expressed regret over his clash with the reporter outside his home, highlighting his family ties to the military and explaining why he didn’t cover his heart when the Star Spangled Banner was played.

‘Everybody it’s Michael here, and I wanna address what happened this past weekend,’ he said in a video message posted on Instagram.

‘I feel like I need to address it because it’s spilled over to the point where I get out of my car today and I’m ambushed by a media outlet here at my house.

‘I’m not proud of the way I handled that whole situation, but I think anybody out there can understand the things you’re gonna do. You’re gonna protect your family and you’re gonna protect your home, which I felt like I needed to do in that moment.’

Gronkowski played nine season for the Patriots, winning three Super Bowl titles alongside Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft on Monday blamed himself for having to fire Mayo, saying he put the first-year head coach in an ‘untenable’ situation.

Kraft met with the media one day after firing Mayo following a 4-13 season and said Mayo wasn’t ready for the job.

‘This whole situation is on me,’ Kraft said. ‘I feel terrible for Jerod, because I put him in an untenable situation. I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job.’

Kraft said that the front office will remain and that the coaching search will be headed by Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith. Kraft said he as well as his son Jonathan will select the next head coach.

Mayo, 38, was in his first season on the job after replacing legendary Bill Belichick after last season.