BB backs Vrabel

[cstjohn17]

I am not a rah rah guy but it is easy to see why vets like playing for this guy.

Per Reiss
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/10/bill_backs_vrab.html

"The only reason Mike was even in the vicinity of anyone’s legs or knees is because he was pushed down," Belichick said. "Then they hit him late. It looked to me that the players were off balance probably because the offense, knowing it was a spike, slowed down and Mike just did what any defensive player should do -- play hard to the whistle and take nothing for granted. I wouldn’t tell Mike to do anything differently."

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

This generation of crybaby players is really something else.

There used to be a time when players understood that this is a tough sport.

Now we have to listen to somebody cry for mommy every week.

Pathetic.

Of course Vrabel plays to the whistle.

 

[fair catch fryar]

I am not a rah rah guy but it is easy to see why vets like playing for this guy.

Per Reiss
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/10/bill_backs_vrab.html

"The only reason Mike was even in the vicinity of anyone’s legs or knees is because he was pushed down," Belichick said. "Then they hit him late. It looked to me that the players were off balance probably because the offense, knowing it was a spike, slowed down and Mike just did what any defensive player should do -- play hard to the whistle and take nothing for granted. I wouldn’t tell Mike to do anything differently."

I just saw that and was about to post it! This is why I like this team more than ever, BB calls it likes it is and defends his one of his veterans, simply because that is what coaches should do. Everyone is so afraid to get thrown under the bus by a teammate(i.e. Peyton Manning) or a coach that they don't say anything. I would love to be in the locker room to listen to the pre-game speeches that happen before the big games!

 

[CheerforTom]

The sad thing about this is that all the media is going to read is "I wouldn't tell Mike to do anything differently."

BELICHICK SUPPORTS LATE HITS MORE AT 11

 

[sanvara]

If he did get pushed and it was not intentional all Vrabel had to do was say "Hey man, sorry, I didn't mean to go at your knees, I got pushed" and this would not even be an issue. Not sure why BB doesn't think that would have been appropriate to do since he says Vrabel should not have done anything differently. Even now, Vrabel could call they guy and explain what happened (if that's the truth that he got pushed) that it wasn't intentional and then all this would go away and people would be talking about how classy Vrabel is instead of the opposite.

 

[Pujo]

If he did get pushed and it was not intentional all Vrabel had to do was say "Hey man, sorry, I didn't mean to go at your knees, I got pushed" and this would not even be an issue. Not sure why BB doesn't think that would have been appropriate to do since he says Vrabel should not have done anything differently. Even now, Vrabel could call they guy and explain what happened, if that's the truth that he got pushed, and then all this would go away.

All this would go away?

 

[PatsSteve1]

I had taped the game and went back and looked at this play. I thought Vrabel tripped over his own feet and fell into Thomas's legs. Thomas actually bent over and tried to catch Vrabel and didn't appear bothered by it at all as he saw it coming. Steinbach just saw the end when Vrabel had fallen into Thomas, he pushed Vrabel over backwards, then a big scrum started.

 

[SVN]

iam a little surprised BB came out and commented on it. he normally ignores such nonsense.

 

[sanvara]

I had taped the game and went back and looked at this play. I thought Vrabel tripped over his own feet and fell into Thomas's legs.

So he didn't get pushed?

 

[SVN]

So he didn't get pushed?

please read -
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/patriots/

So we’ve watched the tape about 20 times of Mike Vrabel’s “classless” hit on Browns rookie Joe Thomas, which drew the ire of guard Eric Steinbach. And while Steinbach is certainly entitled to his opinion, from this vantage point at least, his criticisms appear to be well off base.

Here’s what happened. With 11 seconds left and the Patriots leading comfortably at 34-17, the Browns completed a pass to the Pats 10 and rushed to the line of scrimmage to spike the clock dead. Quarterback Derek Anderson was making the spike motion as he ran the team to the line, and everyone on the field except Vrabel basically took the play off.

At the snap, however, Vrabel attempted to engage Thomas on the edge, driving his arms high into the left tackle like he was hitting a tackling dummy. Thomas, however, didn’t fire out for the collision Vrabel was clearly expecting, and the linebacker lost his balance and started to stumble forward. Simultaneously, Thomas backed up, again not really engaging him, and basically matadored Vrabel right to the ground.

Vrabel fell into Thomas’s knees, then landed on the calf of Anderson, who had already spiked the ball and had his back to the play. Anderson fell, Steinbach wheeled around in anger, and the Browns basically pig-piled on Vrabel.

It’s interesting to note that while Vrabel was falling, Steinbach had his back to the play. It was only after Vrabel hit the ground at Thomas’s knees that Steinbach turned around. So he didn’t even see it happen live. It’s a safe bet that seeing the tape merely reinforced Steinbach’s opinion, but we’ve repeatedly watched that sucker dispassionately this morning, and if Vrabel is guilty of anything, it’s playing hard in a situation that didn’t merit the effort.

And it’s hard to get on a guy for that.

if you want to keep find fault with the pats as dirty and BB as making up his analysis and all..then YES.they are dirty. happy ?
i dont know why vrabel should call and apologize. How about the browns player watch the damn tape and then make a comment ? So anyone can another player dirty and that player has to go back and review the tape and point it back saying it wasnt dirty ?

 

[sanvara]

i dont know why vrabel should call and apologize. How about the browns player watch the damn tape and then make a comment ? So anyone can another player dirty and that player has to go back and review the tape and point it back saying it wasnt dirty ?

He doesn't have to apologize necessarily, he could just give the guy the heads up that "it wasn't intentional...I wasn't just playing hard like I always do and I didn't mean to go at your knees." But not through the press. That doesn't mean anything. You need to do that man to man. Word will get out to the press that Vrabel called to straighten it out and everyone will talk about what a class act he is. But if he was pissed off at the guy and he meant to do it, it would be pretty stupid to call or do anything else at this point other than let your coach do damage control.

 

[SVN]

He doesn't have to apologize necessarily, he could just give the guy the heads up that "it wasn't intentional." But not through the press. That doesn't mean anything. You need to do that man to man. Word will get out to the press that Vrabel called to straighten it out and everyone will talk about what a class act he is.

point is - he doesnt care unless asked about it because he knows he didnt do anything wrong. Sane people will watch the tape and know who was at fault. Other's will just read the press and assume what they want because of their ignorance to research or hate towards the team in general.some idiot comes out and say it was dirty and then vrabel has to call this guy up for what ? you think the browns player will call a press conf and say it was a mistake on his part ? more importantly will the media driven to find faults with the pats listen to him ?
Iam surprised you arent questioning what the browns player said without research , instead you want vrabel to clear the misunderstanding.

 

[sanvara]

point is - he doesnt care unless asked about it because he knows he didnt do anything wrong. Sane people will watch the tape and know who was at fault. Other's will just read the press and assume what they want because of their ignorance to research or hate towards the team in general.some idiot comes out and say it was dirty and then vrabel has to call this guy up for what ? you think the browns player will call a press conf and say it was a mistake on his part ? more importantly will the media driven to find faults with the pats listen to him ?
Iam surprised you arent questioning what the browns player said without research , instead you want vrabel to clear the misunderstanding.

Obviously the Browns player thinks he intentionally went at a players knees. It has blown up in the press and the Pats need more bad press like they need a hole in the head. So yeah, I see nothing wrong with trying to smooth it over man to man if it was a misunderstanding.

 

[kolbitr]

Obviously the Browns player thinks he intentionally went at a players knees. It has blown up in the press and the Pats need more bad press like they need a hole in the head. So yeah, I see nothing wrong with trying to smooth it over man to man if it was a misunderstanding.

Why are so many trolling fans so pugnacious?

Look, if anyone should be the first to apologize it's Steinbach, who created this crap in the beginning by holding a "press conference" about it. Why should Vrabel go out of his way to apologize to a rookie OL for something that he didn't do, but which one of his teammates claimed he did, and then screamed about? And why in hell would Vrabel, if he did talk to the rookie, announce this to the media? Plenty of visitors like yourself would have been right back to call him insincere, and a liar--just as so many called Vince Wilfork, who did try to apologize to Losman for what he felt were unfair remarks, and what did it get him? Nothin'.

The best response in a case like this, when someone like Steinbach calls you out in the press, is to say nothing--then smack them in the mouth the next time. THEN maybe you all go get a beer together.

 

[PatsSteve1]

So he didn't get pushed?

I didn't think so and the post hear from the Herald seems to back that up. Either way though it did look like he stumbled and almost fell short of Thomas. Thomas bent over and tried to catch him and wasn't who was upset by the play.

 

[LoveDemPats]

If he did get pushed and it was not intentional all Vrabel had to do was say "Hey man, sorry, I didn't mean to go at your knees, I got pushed" and this would not even be an issue. Not sure why BB doesn't think that would have been appropriate to do since he says Vrabel should not have done anything differently. Even now, Vrabel could call they guy and explain what happened (if that's the truth that he got pushed) that it wasn't intentional and then all this would go away and people would be talking about how classy Vrabel is instead of the opposite.

Again, BB needs you to tell him how to live his life. It is so simple. We need to get you two together. Like, maybe you could have lunch with him or something like that. Would that be ok with you? Just mention a good time, and he will be there. You are so on top of things it is just amazing to me.

Oh, and if you have the time, talk to Vrabel because he is really interested.

 

[spacecrime]

He doesn't have to apologize necessarily, he could just give the guy the heads up that "it wasn't intentional...I wasn't just playing hard like I always do and I didn't mean to go at your knees." But not through the press. That doesn't mean anything. You need to do that man to man.

This is dumb. You are complaining that Vrabel didn't apologize in such a manner that you wouldn't know if he did or didn't?????? How the heck do you know that he didn't?

Not that he should apologize. Apologize for what? Playing to the whistle?

Since when do LBs apologize for hitting OLinemen? That is pure dumb.

The play is over when the whistle blows. I suppose if it was a fake spike and a TD scored, you'd be laughing that the Patriots were duped.

This is football. What you need to watch is golf.

 

[sanvara]

Mod edited

Mod edited

This is dumb. You are complaining that Vrabel didn't apologize in such a manner that you wouldn't know if he did or didn't?????? How the heck do you know that he didn't?

Not that he should apologize. Apologize for what? Playing to the whistle?

Since when do LBs apologize for hitting OLinemen? That is pure dumb.

The play is over when the whistle blows. I suppose if it was a fake spike and a TD scored, you'd be laughing that the Patriots were duped.

This is football. What you need to watch is golf.

I don't think I am the dumb one here. I know we can't all be Mensa members. I suggest you read up on what happened before asking a question this silly. Maybe someone can read the articles to you and explain what it all means.

 

[DarrylS]

Seems as though some of the other players, Steinbech et al, have confused the Patriots kindness with weakness... they kept their mouth shut on the Wilfork debacle.. time to do something else.. the media is having a feeding frenzy on all things Patriots.. maybe now someone will think before they speak, instead of just reacting and maybe the press will do a little homework, before feeding the fire. Good for BB, he could have kept his mouth shut, but chose not to.. this goes a long way with his players.

 

[Bostonian1962]

This generation of crybaby players is really something else.

There used to be a time when players understood that this is a tough sport.

Now we have to listen to somebody cry for mommy every week.

Pathetic.

Of course Vrabel plays to the whistle.

Man, you are right on the money! I just don't remember my generation whining and crying every week like these spoiled and pampered players. It's almost laughable now.