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

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Bruschi on Vrabel: 'The team completely changes'
Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff
March 4, 2009

Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel spent eight seasons as teammates, helping the Patriots win three Super Bowl championships. The fellow linebackers formed a close bond on the field and off.

So it should come as little surprise that Bruschi was surprised and disappointed when he heard the news this past weekend that Vrabel had been dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs along with quarterback Matt Cassel in exchange for the 34th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

"Sometimes with me personally -- with Vrabes, our relationship -- my personal feelings get involved," Bruschi said during a candid interview with sports radio WEEI's "Dale and Holley" show this afternoon. "Why would one of my best friends throughout my entire career, why don't we need a guy like that? In my own selfish way, we hung out together. There goes my boy, you know, he's going off to somewhere else. I get a little upset about that, and I wonder, what happened? How come he couldn't stay here?

"The solution for both [the player and the team] was for him to move on. Why? I still don't know. I still don't know. Because losing Vrabes, the team completely changes. We've had big changes before, but to me, this is one of the biggest for me as a linebacker, you know, seeing Mike Vrabel go. But we've coped with changes before [and I] think we'll be able to overcome."

Bruschi said that Vrabel will be missed on game day, but that's only the beginning of what he brought to the Patriots.

"He could be a leader on the field, he could be the one making the plays that won the game, whether that be on defense or offense when he was catching the football, catching touchdowns as a tight end," Bruschi said. "And then going into the locker room or saying something during the stretch line that was so absolutely hilarious that had the morale sort of boosted and raised and sort of lighten the atmosphere in the locker room.

"He did so many things, being our player representative along with being on the executive committee. He did so many things, not just for us but for the NFL. Kansas City, I hope they realize what they are getting, because they're a lucky organization."
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Bruschi on Vrabel: 'The team completely changes' - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com
 
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Verbal Mike Vrabel
Linebacker speaks about trade
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Notebook
Saturday, March 7, 2009

Mike Vrabel spoke to the media for the first time since being shipped out of town as an appendage to the deal that sent Matt Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2009 second-round draft pick.

During a conference call with the Kansas City media yesterday, the former Patriots [team stats] linebacker didn?t exactly dismiss the notion that he might be playing with a chip on his shoulder this season.

At age 33, with 12 seasons under his belt, the former Pro Bowler feels he can still play football and contribute.

?This is a production business and the bottom line is it is all about production,? Vrabel said. ?You put those eight years (I spent in New England) up against a lot of different guys, then I would be really happy with what I did in those eight years.

?With that being said, I know that I have got some more football left. I can still play and I can still help the Chiefs and I will help the Chiefs. I have never gone into a season and said, ?I am going to do this, this and this.? I promise you that I will work, I will be consistent and, God willing, I will be durable.

?Those are the things that I like to think that I brought to the table in New England and will bring to the table in Kansas City.?

Vrabel was diplomatic when asked about whether he was happy to be out of New England.

?I wouldn?t say that is necessarily true, but the situation is what it is,? he said. ?To be anything but excited wouldn?t be giving the Chiefs players and the fans the respect they deserve. I am playing for the Chiefs. Whoever I was going to be playing for this year, I would give the same effort.?
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Verbal Mike Vrabel - BostonHerald.com

Chief objective for Vrabel remains same
Mike Vrabel will give his all.
By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / March 7, 2009

Thus, it was natural that when answering questions from the Kansas City media yesterday, former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel had a momentary lapse. He referred to the Patriots as "we" while discussing how much attention Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez draws from defenses.

There is no "we" in New England for Vrabel anymore. The venerable linebacker and prototypical Patriot was sent to Kansas City, along with quarterback Matt Cassel, for the Chiefs' second-round pick (No. 34 overall) in a deal announced last Saturday. The surprising details of the deal began to leak out the day before, when Vrabel confirmed he had been traded.

Speaking for the first time as a Chief, Vrabel did not take any parting shots at the Patriots or coach Bill Belichick, but he made it clear that leaving the team was neither his choice nor his request. If it had been, you can bet he wouldn't have asked to be traded to a team coming off a 2-14 season.

When asked whether exiting Foxborough was his idea, Vrabel, whose inclusion in the Cassel trade saved the Patriots about $3.3 million of the $4.3 million he was slated to count against their salary cap in 2009, echoed a phrase made popular by his former coach.

"I wouldn't say that is necessarily true, but the situation is what it is," said Vrabel. "So, to be anything but excited wouldn't be giving the Chiefs, [their] players, myself, and the fans the respect that they deserve. I am playing for the Chiefs. So, whoever I was going to be playing for this year, I would give them the same effort."
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Chief objective for Vrabel remains same - The Boston Globe


Vrabel talks with KC reporters
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff March 6, 2009

Former Patriots LB Mike Vrabel answered questions from reporters today in Kansas City. The audio is available on the Chiefs' official website and here were a few nuggets of note (full transcript of conference call, as transcribed by the Chiefs' media relations staff, can be seen by clicking "full entry" at the bottom of this update):


On if he?ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder. ?I don?t know how accurate that is. I think I?m going to try to ? let?s put it this way, if you take the eight years that I played in New England, this is a production business, bottom line, it?s all about production. If you put those eight years up against a lot of different guys, I?d be real happy with what I did in eight years. That being said, I know I have some more football left. I can still play. I can still help the Chiefs and will help the Chiefs. Now to what extent, I?ve never gone into a season and said ?I?m going to do this, this and this.? I promise you that I?ll work, I?ll be consistent, and God willing, I?ll be durable. Those are the things I?d like to think I brought to the table in New England and will bring to the table in Kansas City.?
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Vrabel talks with KC reporters - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Mike Vrabel - Phone Interview

Mike Vrabel, the linebacker recently acquired by the Chiefs from the Patriots, gave a phone interview to the media on March 6, 2009. Vrabel, who will be 34 in August, was an eight-year starter for the Patriots and a key member of their three Super Bowl championship teams. (Video by Todd Feeback - March 6, 2009
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Mike Vrabel - Phone Interview
 
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Chiefs coach Haley says Vrabel 'excited to get here'
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star

Linebacker Mike Vrabel is still not physically with the Chiefs, but according to coach Todd Haley, he?s with them in spirit.

While not being specific about Vrabel?s reasons for not participating in the offseason practices or workouts, Haley said Vrabel was on board.

?Mike?s excited to get here,? Haley said Friday. ?I?m excited to see him in action and see where he?s at. We?ve been giving him the information, and he?s been working and calling and checking in.?

Haley said Vrabel would attend the Chiefs? mandatory minicamp June 5-7.

The Chiefs acquired Vrabel in February through a trade with the Patriots. He?s pushing 34 years old and won?t have a long-term influence in Kansas City, but he?s expected to help the Chiefs transition to a 3-4 defense and give them another veteran linebacker to join Derrick Johnson and Demorrio Williams.

Vrabel, an eight-year starter for the Patriots and a member of all three of New England?s Super Bowl championship teams, also should provide leadership for a defense that has lacked in that area.
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Chiefs coach Haley says Vrabel 'excited to get here' - Kansas City Star
 
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Still no Waters or Vrabel at Chiefs practice, but LJ returns

The Chiefs began another week of optional team practices without two important pieces, and how Kansas City ends this week could foretell whether key players on offense and defense have a future with the team.

Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters and linebacker Mike Vrabel again skipped Monday morning's practice at team headquarters. Neither player has participated in the team's offseason drills, all of which have been optional. But Friday, the Chiefs begin a three-day, mandatory minicamp, and coach Todd Haley said Monday that he's confident he'll be missing no players come the weekend.
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Still no Waters or Vrabel at Chiefs practice, but LJ returns | Red Zone

Although LB Mike Vrabel has been absent for all of the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason practices, it is not believed that he is upset about his trade from a perennial contender in the Patriots to a rebuilding Kansas City club, as had been speculated. Instead, Vrabel is working out on his own — as many veterans do at this time of year — and is expected to report to the team once mandatory sessions begin.
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http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/Whispers/2009/wrapup053109.htm
 
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Posted on Fri, Jun. 05, 2009
Waters, Vrabel report to Chiefs? mandatory minicamp
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

They had their reasons for missing the Chiefs? previous practices, but Brian Waters and Mike Vrabel were there Friday. And if you ask them, that?s all that matters.

Waters and Vrabel attended both of Kansas City?s mandatory practices Friday, and in between the sessions, they addressed why they hadn?t been with the Chiefs during organized team activities. Waters said it was nothing out of the ordinary; Vrabel said it was about making a point.

?Just trying to exercise my rights within the CBA,? Vrabel said, referring to the league?s collective bargaining agreement and that it defines most offseason practices as optional. ?We bargain for rights to make these workouts voluntary, and that?s all I was trying to do.?
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Waters, Vrabel report to Chiefs? mandatory minicamp - Kansas City Star

Video of Vrabes after reporting yesterday...

Chiefs Mike Vrabel talks about the Chiefs, defense
 
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