SAN FRANCISCO — There were no storm warnings about the 2025 New England Patriots when Hurricane Vrabel rained down onto a pile during an August joint practice with the Commanders and emerged with a bloodied cheek. But perhaps there should have been.
“That’s what we’re trying to build, and it starts with the head coach — intensity, bringing it every day, taking no crap when we’re out there on the field,” Drake Maye said. “The mentality, I like it. That’s what you want.”
Right then and there the identity of these AFC champion Patriots was forged.
“The initial reaction is that’s who he is,” ESPN analyst and former Vrabel running mate Tedy Bruschi told The Post. “And then what I probably thought most was, ‘OK, it’ll be a sign of progress when there’s like 5-10 players doing that rather than the head coach.’ ”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
