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http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/09/03/ready_willing_and_vrabel/?page=1
Good job as always by Jackie. Is it possible we still underrate Vrabel? For those who were worried about losing Willie's leadership I think this article will help.
"With McGinest gone this year and Harrison missing most of last season, it was only logical that Vrabel would step up and assume some veteran leadership responsibilities. Richard Seymour, Bruschi, Harrison, and Vrabel are the defensive core the younger players look to for advice. According to Green, Vrabel entertains a steady stream of questions from rookies and young prospects throughout the preseason.
``They choose him," Green said, ``because he treats them the way he'd like to be treated himself."
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We also saw some of this during the Arizona preseason game when they had BB miked Vrabel was busting the coach:
"The guy should have been a comedian," offered defensive end Jarvis Green. ``We'll be sitting in meetings, and he'll come out with something that the rest of us might be thinking but would never say out loud.
``The other day, the coaches were laying out all the stuff they wanted us to do, and all of a sudden Mike is yelling, `What do you think we are? Your whipping boys?' I mean, I was thinking that, but saying it? I'll leave that to Mike."
He has become adept at knowing when to ease the tension with a wisecrack, or spice up the drudgery with a dig.
``I don't mind joking with Bill, and he doesn't mind telling me to shut the [expletive] up," Vrabel explained. ``I do it because it breaks up the monotony, whether it's with Bill or someone else."
Good job as always by Jackie. Is it possible we still underrate Vrabel? For those who were worried about losing Willie's leadership I think this article will help.
"With McGinest gone this year and Harrison missing most of last season, it was only logical that Vrabel would step up and assume some veteran leadership responsibilities. Richard Seymour, Bruschi, Harrison, and Vrabel are the defensive core the younger players look to for advice. According to Green, Vrabel entertains a steady stream of questions from rookies and young prospects throughout the preseason.
``They choose him," Green said, ``because he treats them the way he'd like to be treated himself."
-----
We also saw some of this during the Arizona preseason game when they had BB miked Vrabel was busting the coach:
"The guy should have been a comedian," offered defensive end Jarvis Green. ``We'll be sitting in meetings, and he'll come out with something that the rest of us might be thinking but would never say out loud.
``The other day, the coaches were laying out all the stuff they wanted us to do, and all of a sudden Mike is yelling, `What do you think we are? Your whipping boys?' I mean, I was thinking that, but saying it? I'll leave that to Mike."
He has become adept at knowing when to ease the tension with a wisecrack, or spice up the drudgery with a dig.
``I don't mind joking with Bill, and he doesn't mind telling me to shut the [expletive] up," Vrabel explained. ``I do it because it breaks up the monotony, whether it's with Bill or someone else."