Vrabel sour grapes?

[Absurdly Metro]

I just read the transcript of Mike Vrabels comments with the Kansas City media today and found myself convinced that, while he doesn't say it, Mike Vrabel is clearly pissed at BB for trading him.

Check it out...

Q: Did you want out of New England?

VRABEL: “I wouldn’t say that is necessarily true, but the situation is what it is. To be anything but excited wouldn’t be giving the Chiefs, players, and the fans the respect that they deserve. I am playing for the Chiefs. Whoever I was going to be playing for this year, I would give them the same effort.”

Notice he doesn't answer the question with a strong "That's not true." Instead he answers with a hazy "I wouldn't say that is necessarily true." His language leaves several possible interpretations as to what someone could say about the situation. Vrabel himself wouldn't say that is necessarily true but someone else might be able to say it. Also why does he qualify the truth by putting the word necessarily in front of it? What does that mean exactly anyway?

Q: Is it accurate that you will be playing with a chip on your shoulder?

VRABEL: “I don’t know how accurate that is. This is a production business and the bottom line is, it is all about production. You put those eight years 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 will promise you that I will work, I’ll 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.”

Again, instead of plainly stating, "That's not accurate" he muddies the water so that we don't really know how accurate it is. I mean how can we know if Vrable himself doesn't know.

And then we have what may be a thinly veiled shot at Bill Belichick...

Q: Are you a vocal leader in the locker room?

VRABEL: “I am not going to give a pregame speech or anything like that but I think what guys respect is someone that can go out and be counted on, be accountable and play every week. Bring that same style of football, preparation every week. That is what guys respect. They don’t respect a guy that gets up and screams and yells. Everybody is in this thing together. All the guys want to find a role and go out there and play. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter who is coaching your football team; the coaches find the talent and the players have to go out there and play together and they have to play well.”

While I wouldn't say this IS necessarily a thinly veiled shot at BB, I don't know how accurate it is to say it isn't.

What do you think? Is Mike Vrabel pissed at BB for trading him to Kansas City?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Does Vrabel know why he was traded? Probably.

Is he ever going to tell us why? Probably not.

 

[realtime]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Mods: Please move to linguistics forum.

 

[redsox33]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

If you listen to the interview (off kcchiefs.com) right after they ask him "so what's the patriot way" he respongs "well you'd have to ask someone who plays for the patriots"

 

[PATS68]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Who cares if he is sour or not. I heard a interview with Vrable and he thought he was going to be selling insurance after his time with Pitt. was done. BB gave him a chance and Vrable has made alot of money so I could care less.

Vrable owes more to BB than BB owes to Vrable. The guys is set for life, he should have no problem what so ever.

The mark I always use if Joe Montana was let go, then anybody in the NFL can be let go.

 

[BadMoFo]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Why shouldn't he be a little upset?

We were all a little stunned. Imagine how he felt, and he's the one who has to move the family and find a new place up in Kansas City.

 

[TealSox]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Don't blame him if he does have sour grapes about the situation.

Had the Pats released him, he could had earned a three year deal with another team with a decent signing bonus. Publicly it looks like he was traded for nothing. And I doubt he feels good about how last season turned out and this is injury to insult, if nothing else.

But the Pats did give him an option. As a Pat, he got his rings (which is something a few guys would love to have). He got paid and now gets the op to do much more in KC than he could in NE in 2009.

Good luck to him!

 

[farn]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

He'll get over it... I have. I'm a Patriots fan. I appreciate all the work and all the plays Vrabel added to the team. Move on.

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

I think it's a stretch of the imagination. Looks to me like you were seeking a reason out to claim sour grapes.

Seems to me that Belichick was going to cut Vrabel. He cost too much on the cap for a player of declining production. Vrabel knew this. Pioli knows this, since Pioli has cap room to spare and a roster to build from scratch.

I think Vrabel has hit that wall where the natural athleticism is no longer there. He can still get by on veteran wile and hard work and smarts, but he can't overpower or chase down NFL players anymore. When was the last time you saw Vrabel regularly playing in space, or closing in on the QB? He is of value as a leader to a team that can afford him. He is not of value here anymore, not much more than Bruschi, who can be had much cheaper.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Hmm.......




Has anyone tried to listen to it backwards?

 

[farn]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Hmm.......




Has anyone tried to listen to it backwards?

Sounds just like "Yellow submarine".

 

[Absurdly Metro]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Hmm.......




Has anyone tried to listen to it backwards?

OMG when I listen to it backwards it says "We must all worship Bill Beelzebubchick!"

 

[mgcolby]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Are we really this petty? :confused2:

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

I doubt he was surprised, I bet BB went to Vrabel so see if he would take a lower salary to free up some cap space and he probably wasnt to receptive about doing it. BB did him a favor by trading him to KC, now he collects his bonus and full salary. I doubt theres any sour grapes.

 

[PATS68]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

From some of the players not resigned by the Pats, I take it BB really looked at some tape in the offseason.

Good job BB, more speed please.

 

[Absurdly Metro]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Are we really this petty?

One mans petty is another mans curiousity. I remember reading an article about people who detect lies by looking at language. Guys like OJ and Michael Jackson were shown to consistently use evasive or ambiguous language and habitually couched their denials in opinion rather than directly answering them. This Vrabel interview reminded me of that. IMO he's not answering the questions truthfully. Petty? Perhaps in the grand scheme of life on planet Earth. But then again, by that standard, so is just about everything on this board.

 

[zoostation]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Notice he doesn't answer the question with a strong "That's not true."

You actually expect him to say he DID NOT want to leave the Patriots when he is at a press conference for his new team? Are you serious?

That's like you going on an interveiw for a new job and the boss of the new company saying is it true you didn't want to leave your last job... and you answering "yes, I'd rather still be at the other company".

He had to answer the questions the way he did.

 

[JDSal45]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

If you listen to the interview (off kcchiefs.com) right after they ask him "so what's the patriot way" he respongs "well you'd have to ask someone who plays for the patriots"

Umm, no he didn't. Here is his response according to the transcript posted by Christopher Price:

Q: What is the definition of “The Patriot Way”?

VRABEL: “I think it is about making football important. Loving to play football is about being prepared, being accountable and consistent. I think to be consistent at least your teammates and your coaches know what to expect out of you every week and it is not something that is great one week and then crappy the next. It is putting effort in and getting consistent production from the players.”

J D Sal

 

[zoostation]

Re: Vrabel sour grapes

This post is part of the reason some athletes don't like playing in Boston.

Let's not twist Vrabel's words. Let's remember him as a key and loyal Patriot

 

[PatsSox363804]

Re: Vrabel Sour Grapes??

Hmm.......




Has anyone tried to listen to it backwards?

Holy crap, it sounds like he's saying "Tom is dead."