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DE Mike Vrabel (All B1G, All American, Pro Bowl, All Pro, Super Bowl Champion)

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Vrabel is staying tuned in

By Mike Reiss


Globe Staff / October 1, 2008



FOXBOROUGH - Three games into the season, outside linebacker Mike Vrabel has emerged as the Patriots' primary defensive player to have the coach-to-player communication device in his helmet.


This marks the first year NFL defenders have been allowed to have the device, and while calling it an "ongoing battle," Vrabel feels it's been a positive change.
"It's pretty good. I think it helps," he said. "I don't think it hurts."
When teams voted to approve the device for defenders in the offseason, one of the issues that Patriots coach Bill Belichick pointed out was that some teams don't have a player who is on the field for every play, a result of substitution packages. That makes it challenging to decide who gets the device.

Continued..............
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Little less from Mike Vrabel
Drop-off in production a mystery
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Notebook
Friday, November 21, 2008

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FOXBORO - Mike Vrabel has not been dumping quarterbacks at anywhere near the frequency of recent years.

After registering two sacks in the season opener against Kansas City, Vrabel, who had 12 sacks during his Pro Bowl campaign a year ago, hasn?t gotten to the QB. The nine-game run without a sack is the longest of his Patriots [team stats] career.

While the defensive schemes may have something to do with it, another contributing factor may be the bum shoulder Vrabel?s been playing with. According to a source familiar with the situation, the shoulder is bad enough that surgery could be an option after the season.

When asked about it yesterday, Vrabel did not want to discuss any injury situation, save to shoot down one Web site?s report that claimed the linebacker already had surgery on the shoulder this past offseason.

?I did not have shoulder surgery,? Vrabel said, before ending the discussion.

Despite Vrabel?s drop-off in sacks and tackles - he has just 33 - former Patriots linebacker Steve Nelson thinks he?s played just fine, especially if he?s been playing hurt.

?I?m sure Mike would love to have more sacks, but I think that?s a product of a lot of different things,? Nelson said. ?With outside linebackers, sometimes it?s difficult to tell by the stats how well a guy is playing. To me, I think he?s playing as well as he ever has. He?s playing almost all of the downs. He?s setting the edge. He has the same leadership responsibilities. He?s aggressive. I really haven?t seen a drop-off in his play.?
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Little less from Mike Vrabel - BostonHerald.com
 
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Vrabel labeled a throwback
Seau likens LB to Mecklenburg
By Mike Reiss
Globe Staff / December 24, 2008

FOXBOROUGH - At 39 years old, the senior presence in the Patriots' locker room, linebacker Junior Seau realizes that some of the things he says fly over the heads of his 21- and 22-year-old teammates.

One recent example came when Seau, lauding the all-around work of Mike Vrabel, compared him with Broncos great Karl Mecklenburg.

"A lot of the kids don't know who that was," Seau chuckled. "But it tickles [Vrabel]."

Mecklenburg played from 1983-94, appeared in six Pro Bowls and three Super Bowls, and was someone Seau admired when he was entering the NFL himself in 1990. Versatility and durability were Mecklenburg trademarks, and Seau sees plenty of that in the 33-year-old Vrabel.

"He's the utilityman. He knows it all," Seau said. "He knows the game of football, and with his smarts and his athleticism, having the combination of that and his experience, it's hard to find a player like that."

Vrabel's versatility has come in handy in recent weeks, as he's found himself working at outside and inside linebacker in practice after a run of injuries that included Pierre Woods (jaw), Tedy Bruschi (knee), and Gary Guyton (ankle).

Mecklenburg has no qualms with the linkage.

"I've followed Mike's career, and I look at it the same way as I did my career - he moved around a lot and has been effective in different roles," said Mecklenburg, who resides in Denver and is a motivational speaker.

"That's unusual because the positions are all different, so you have different footwork, and you have to adjust mentally to all the different assignments you get. It's hard to do, but Mike does it as well as anyone."

Vrabel also continues to lead the defensive huddle, so it's his responsibility to make sure all defenders are operating off the same script.
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Vrabel labeled a throwback - The Boston Globe
 
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Mike Vrabel: New England Patriots' Literary Light Makes Tackle at 2nd and 7
by William Russo (Scribe)
February 16, 2009

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NFL players perform many charitable works as part of their daily lives in the public eye.

New England Patriots' outside linebacker Mike Vrabel belongs to that group. His versatility on the field may be secondary to his talent off the field throughout the year, not just during the football season.

Few fans may know that Vrabel has added ?author? to his resume. How did this literary aspiration come about?

Together with two teammates (Ryan Miller and Luke Fickell) from his playing days at Ohio State University, Vrabel volunteered to read to second grade children as part of his student-athlete curriculum. As undergraduate football players, the three friends formed a unique bond at OSU, which carried over into daily life.

The three OSU graduates wanted to improve the literacy skills of all children. After college they went separate ways and to separate NFL teams, but a few years ago their bond grew with the creation of The Second and Seven Foundation.
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Mike Vrabel: New England Patriots' Literary Light Makes Tackle at 2nd and 7 | Bleacher Report
 
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Mike Vrabel analysis
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
February 27, 2009
ANALYSIS

After stepping back to digest the surprising news of a Patriots-Chiefs trade with Mike Vrabel, two thoughts came to mind:

1) How much are finances a part of this decision?

2) Could this be part of a larger deal with the Chiefs that might involve Matt Cassel?

What was your initial thought upon learning Mike Vrabel was traded to the Chiefs?

Horrible trade ... It doesn't even matter what the Patriots get back, you don't trade a Mike Vrabel

Good move ... Vrabel was done, whatever they get in return is a bonus
I think this move is setting up something bigger, like maybe clearing room to sign Julius Peppers
They traded Vrabel to clear cap room to keep Matt Cassel ... I don't think they're going to trade Cassel

The 33-year-old Vrabel was entering the final year of his contract in 2009. He was due to earn $2.2 million in base salary, would receive a $1 million roster bonus, and count $4.3 million against the salary cap.

Given Vrabel's contributions to the Patriots -- on the field and in the locker room -- that doesn't seem like much to digest.

So why make the deal?

From a Chiefs perspective, they had one of the youngest rosters in the NFL last season, and new general manager Scott Pioli understands the importance of veteran leadership in the locker room. Vrabel will provide that in Kansas City, likely as a team captain.

The question is why the Patriots would trade Vrabel.

Until more details become available on the trade itself -- and if this is the first domino to fall on a larger deal -- the answer to that question remains open-ended.
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Mike Vrabel analysis - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

The PFW Spin

It?s fitting that the first acquisition of the Scott Pioli era in Kansas City is a Patriot.

Pioli spent many years with Vrabel in New England, and he knows the linebacker will be a positive influence on the team?s many young players. He also knows that the Chiefs could use some guys with winning experience to help change the club?s losing mindset, and Vrabel should do just that.

The problem with trading for Vrabel is that his play appeared to drop off last season, his 12th in the league. Also, he?ll be switching from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3, so there probably will be an adjustment period. Because of K.C.?s current lack of quality personnel, he almost surely will be asked to start. However, it?s unlikely that he has many years of effectiveness remaining.

It looks like this move is more about bringing in a locker-room leader than someone who?s going to turn around a putrid defense. Vrabel can be used to teach the franchise?s youth about having a strong work ethic and what it?s like to be successful. As long as the Chiefs didn?t give up very much in this deal, it should end up being a solid pickup for a squad that is basically starting from scratch in it?s rebuilding process.
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Kansas City - Pro Football Weekly
 
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The ESPN Radio speculation was that something other than money - perhaps an injury - was at root here.

Though you would think that would show up in the KC physical.

Otherwise, if no physical issues, then they have this as nearly as mind-boggling a choice as the Redskins cutting $100 Million for a DT - no matter the sack total.
 
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