Mike Vrabel’s blunt response to report about Titans proprietor’s grudge
New England Patriots
Vrabel additionally mentioned the problem of a fast turnaround forward of a Thursday evening recreation, and the comparisons his staff (and his quarterback) face with previous Patriot greatness.
Following the Patriots’ 28-23 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday, New England head coach Mike Vrabel made certain to shout out the various followers who traveled to see the staff in Tampa.
Talking with WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Present” on Monday morning, Vrabel was impressed with the big contingent of Patriots followers within the space.
“We talked about giving them causes to journey, causes to cheer,” he stated. “Actually love seeing everyone across the resort after we obtained there and on the best way to the sport, and on the recreation.
“We’re grateful [for] that,” added Vrabel. “We all know that these journeys aren’t simple or low cost. These are commitments, and we respect that from our followers.”
New England, now 8-2, is tied with Denver and Indianapolis with the very best report within the AFC. The Patriots face a fast turnaround, with a house recreation on Thursday evening towards the Jets.
Consequently, Vrabel stated his gamers are already working as if it’s the center of the week. For now, it’s nearly relaxation and recuperation.
“There’s not going to be a lot bodily exercise. It’ll be a standard week at Wiggy’s home,” Vrabel joked, referencing former Patriot (and WEEI co-host) Jermaine Wiggins. “Not going to be a number of bodily exercise.”
“That’s a superb one,” Wiggins laughed. “Not a lot exercise there.”
“All arms are on deck this morning,” Vrabel stated of the coaching workers as gamers attempt to get well rapidly. “Every part that we are able to probably do, we’re going to do.”
Listed below are a couple of different matters Vrabel lined in the course of the interview:
Amy Adams Strunk, and the NFL commerce deadline
The Patriots opted to keep away from making any main offers on the current NFL commerce deadline.
Vrabel offered the staff’s perspective on what occurred.
“All people within the personnel division labored, and tried to be diligent. However we didn’t really feel like simply including gamers so as to add gamers,” he defined. “There have been conversations about various things, and people issues didn’t work out.
“Simply determined that it wasn’t the correct factor for us, and that’s form of the place it was,” Vrabel continued. “Shifting ahead right here we’ll should — particularly this week on a brief week — work out who now we have, who’s accessible, and the place we are able to attempt to add some gamers or use some gamers from the follow squad.”
He was requested a follow-up query a few report that emerged following the commerce deadline through Mike Giardi of Boston Sports activities Journal. Giardi stated that he’d heard that “there was some dialog league-wide that Tennessee is perhaps unwilling to make offers with New England.”
The explanation, Giardi defined, was that “the [Titans] proprietor, Amy Adams Strunk, continues to suppose an excessive amount of about how issues ended with Vrabel and isn’t inclined to assist his new staff.”
Vrabel offered a blunt response to the report.
“I haven’t talked to Amy for the reason that day she fired me, so her identify and my identify shouldn’t be in the identical sentence collectively as a result of I haven’t talked to her for the reason that day she fired me,” he replied.
Coping with comparisons to the previous
One inevitability of present Patriots success are the comparisons with earlier New England soccer groups. Because the 2025 Patriots stack up wins, analysts have been unable to withstand seeing shades of Tom Brady and former Invoice Belichick-coached groups within the present model.
Vrabel instructed that everybody “pump the brakes a bit.”
“No,” he stated when requested if he sees parallels with the 2001 Patriots, a staff that he began for, and received New England’s first Tremendous Bowl. “That staff in 2001, [it] was 5-5. Received 9 video games after Thanksgiving.”
One factor Vrabel did determine with was the significance of a staff beginning to play its finest in November.
“You recognize, I do suppose that the season begins now,” he stated. “The NFL season, that is when it begins, and we’ll should be taking part in our greatest every week to present ourselves an opportunity. So the comparisons and issues are form of fascinating, however we all know that they’re not that necessary.”
One different comparability that’s presently being made is the evaluation of Drake Maye as a successor to Brady. Vrabel famous that he isn’t involved about Maye getting carried away with current success.
“I don’t fear about Drake. I believe that he’s going to remain motivated, keep dedicated to this soccer staff,” stated Vrabel. “He understands how troublesome it’s on this league, and the match-ups and the issues that he has to do. I’m excited that he continues to steer this staff and have success.
“He was already making ready final evening on the aircraft,” Vrabel added of Maye preparing for the Jets.
Supporting gamers by damage
Simply earlier than the top of the interview, Vrabel was additionally requested a few second in the course of the recreation on Sunday when defensive sort out Christian Barmore went down with an damage, and Vrabel came to visit to verify on him.
As Barmore was nonetheless down and getting evaluated by trainers, Vrabel held his hand. The second didn’t go unnoticed on social media, with Vrabel receiving credit score.
“These guys put so much on the market for us. That is concerning the gamers. It at all times will probably be,” Vrabel stated in response. “I don’t need to see any of them go down. You recognize what I imply? I don’t.”
“And I used to be getting drained. We had some guys go down yesterday. I used to be getting drained going on the market,” he joked, “but when that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes.”
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