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

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Vrabel epitomized Patriots' reign
Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff
July 11, 2011

mikevrabel609.jpg

Mike Vrabel retired after 14 seasons in the NFL and will be the new linebackers coach at Ohio State. (Jim Davis / Globe file)

Mike Vrabel epitomized what it meant to be a Patriot during the Belichick-Brady era. You can put him up there with Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi and Kevin Faulk as players who embody the essence of the Patriot Way. He was a tough, smart, versatile football player.

Vrabel announced his retirement today after 14 NFL seasons, which included eight with the Patriots and the last two with the Kansas City Chiefs. He's taking a job at his alma mater, Ohio State, as linebackers coach, naturally.

An argument can be made that outside of drafting Tom Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, the most crucial personnel move Bill Belichick made to build his football fiefdom in Foxborough was signing Vrabel as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001. The other prototypical Patriots and championship cornerstone talents were already in place from previous regimes -- Faulk, Brown, Bruschi, Willie McGinest and Ty Law.

Vrabel was a player procured by Belichick and seemingly tailor-made for Belichick at a position, outside linebacker, that is not easy to fill, as the Patriots have learned since Vrabel's departure following the 2008 season.

"When Mike arrived in 2001, we knew we were adding a solid outside linebacker," Belichick said when Vrabel was traded to Kansas City in February of 2009. "But where Mike took it from there exceeded our highest hopes. Mike Vrabel epitomizes everything a coach could seek in a professional football player: toughness, intelligence, play-making, leadership, versatility and consistency at the highest level.

"Of all the players I have coached in my career, there is nobody I enjoyed working with more than Mike. In the same way people recognize guys like Troy Brown, we appreciate and thank Mike Vrabel. He is one of the very special Patriots champions."

Cont..
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http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/gasper/2011/07/vrabel_epitomiz.html

Updated: July 11, 2011
Congratulations to Mike Vrabel
By Tedy Bruschi
ESPNBoston.com

Congratulations to one of my best friends and favorite teammates of all time, Mike Vrabel, on his retirement from the NFL and his new job as Ohio State linebackers coach.

We spent a lot of time together, our wives got to know each other and our children played together. There were times after training-camp practices when I'd tackle his kids and he'd tackle mine. After games during the regular season, it would be the Vrabels and Bruschis on the field and there would be an impromptu game; everything from who could kick it through the uprights to who could score a touchdown.

I was fortunate to spend a majority of my playing career, eight years, with my great friend Mike Vrabel.

I'd also say that the New England Patriots would have zero championships without "Vrabes"; he was such a big-game player.
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I am so happy for him transitioning into an area of his life that he is so passionate about. We had many conversations in the stretch line about the Ohio State Buckeyes. You'd hear him and Tom Brady talking about Ohio State and Michigan. I'd get tired of hearing it, but Vrabes would never relent. He was proud of being a Buckeye.

So for him to combine those passions -- coaching linebackers and the Buckeyes -- it's perfect for him and perfect for his wife, Jen, and Tyler and Carter, his sons, who are Buckeye fans through and through. They would go to games as a family, and now they can watch their dad, from the sidelines and stands, coach linebackers.

I'm sure they're very proud of him. I'm very proud of him and wish him the best of luck.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/columns/story?columnist=bruschi_tedy&id=6757678

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecSVUOooJ4k"]YouTube - ‪Vrabel Retires, Joins OSU Staff‬‏[/ame]
 
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GeorgiaBuck2;1951984; said:
What the [censored]????????????

Either stand behind the coach, or get the [censored] out. Sometimes I can't believe some of the stuff I read on here.

:mad1:
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Sometimes people are banned at the same time you're wishing it would happen. :wink2:
 
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Did anyone else notice in the ESPN article that they dedicated an entire paragraph to his two run-ins with the law since going back to his days as an 18 year old? Seriously? How many fucking coaching hires has ESPN been sure to include that in the article?
 
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BUCKYLE;1951904; said:
Actually, after many beers, I flip out on the people that think they can out-coach people paid to do it.

Numby will maybe possibly probably say something that could be construed as questioning the coaches, but he'll claim his post may have been possibly taken out of context. Possibly.

buckeyesin07 is just batshit crazy. There's no telling what he's capable of.
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Why the hell did my name come up in this anyways? I'm a believer in trusting the coaches.

I don't even really talk about OSU much on BP anymore anyways. Not worth the bickering back and forth for not being a blind homer all the time during the current issues surrounding the program.

Excited to have Vrabel on the staff though. :p /on topic
 
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I kinda like being hated by espin......must mean we are a BIG DOG. I tend to stay away from their program as much as I can. I lean more towards the Big10 network and some other networks. With such a large national following I would think espin would want to cater to programs like Alabama, Texas and tOSU.....its pretty obvious they have an ax to grind with tOSU. I think its funny how the big10 network has cut into them already and it is showing the other conferences how to do the same. Go Bucks
 
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Vrabel answers the call to coach
Former Buckeyes star is tabbed by Fickell to handle linebackers
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
osufb-vrabel-art0-gahdc9cb-1wildart-mike-vrabel-jpg.jpg

Tom Dodge | DISPATCH
Mike Vrabel considered playing another year, but at 35 wasn't sure his body could take the rigors of another NFL season.

Even as Mike Vrabel progressed through an accomplished 14-year NFL career, he thought of himself as a future coach, preferably for his alma mater.

When Vrabel would sign a new NFL contract, his close friend and former Ohio State teammate Luke Fickell would contact him.

"I remember texting or calling him after he signed a couple of those big contracts and said, 'I guess coaching is out the window for you now,'" Fickell recalled yesterday.

"He'd always text me back saying, 'Not a chance. That's something I always want to do and I'll do it.' He was meant to be a coach, and it was in his blood from the time I met him."

Vrabel announced his retirement from the NFL yesterday to become the new linebackers coach at Ohio State, where he starred at defensive end from 1993-96.

That he's doing it under Fickell makes it even better.

"If it was another (head) coach, I'd still want to be at Ohio State," Vrabel said. "But it makes it interesting and fun that a guy you played with is leading this team."

Vrabel, 35, attended the news conference in which Fickell was introduced as Jim Tressel's successor. At the time, Vrabel said he was interested in playing another season. But with the NFL in the midst of a lockout and Vrabel not sure he could go through the rigors of training, his thoughts were already on retirement.

"As Rocky Marciano said, age retires undefeated," Vrabel said. "You just can't do the things you're used to."

Cont...
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...vrabel-answers-the-call-to-coach.html?sid=101
Mike Vrabel goes out a winner
Ian R. Rapoport
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

For the record, Mike Vrabel finished his Patriots [team stats] career with 404 solo tackles and 48 sacks. But you can take the statistics or leave them.

It?s not the numbers he produced that stood out to those who watched a ring-riddled 14-year NFL career that officially ended yesterday. In New England, it?s what the outside linebacker stood for that led the discussion.

?It?s no coincidence that Mike won championships everywhere he played,? said Scott Pioli, who has served as general manager for the Patriots and Chiefs. ?If there were a Hall of Champions, Mike Vrabel would be a first-ballot selection.?

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http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...bel_goes_out_a_winner/srvc=home&position=also

Coaching at Ohio State is new project for Vrabel
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

A little more than two years ago, Mike Vrabel received some disappointing news. He was being traded from New England, which had made him a foundation block and a champion, to the Chiefs ? a team that seemed hopeless. Vrabel and Matt Cassel came to Kansas City in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Cassel was ecstatic. He had a chance to start, an opportunity he never would?ve gotten with Tom Brady still with the Patriots. But starting over was hardly the way the 33-year-old Vrabel wanted to spend the twilight years of his career.

?I?m here. I didn?t sign up,? Vrabel told The Star in 2009. ?I don?t know what to tell you.?

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Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/11/3008333/coaching-at-ohio-state-is-new.html#ixzz1RtOqjBjX
 
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This quote from Bill Belichick is worth highlighting.

Ozone

"Mike Vrabel is as well-suited for coaching as any player I have ever coached," New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick said in a statement.

"He has a tremendous feel for people, players, coaches and what his team needs regardless of the situation. He is outstanding in his knowledge of the game, which contributed to his excellence as a player. I have no doubt Mike will develop tough, intelligent, fundamentally sound winners."
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BB73;1952415; said:
This quote from Bill Belichick is worth highlighting.

Ozone
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but waaaah bruce tooley says the hiring was a mistake...and he said it on espin radio so it has to be true!

on a serious note I am extremely happy with the Vrabel hire. Always been 1 of my favorite Buckeyes. Welcome home Mike!


:oh:
 
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