Vrabel Press Conference

[mike_usagisan]

Check the tweets from Pat MacAfee.

Vrabel is the go-between when it's time to induct Bill in the Pats Hall of Fame.

 

[Clonamery]

We agree on Wolf, but I am concerned with noncommittal response over who has final say. The line of command should be clear and unambiguous.

He called Wolf, Eliot, about 12 times. I think Vrabel owns him but is presenting as collaboration.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Old people need to learn when they should step aside and not be the face of everything

What you talkin bout Willis

 

[Thelonious]

Three impressions:

1) Robert seems about 15 years older than he did two years ago. The age at which it happens varies tremendously so far as one's age is concerned, but in the end we all come to a point where we must step aside. I think he's at that point. The Mayo hire, based as it was on an irrelevant emotional basis demonstrated this, as does Robert's foolish insistence on keeping a failed GM around because he seems like a nice fella, as if that matters.

2) I thought Vrabel's presentation was pretty much boilerplate, though it was a little more touchy-feelie than I would have expected. It was a formailty, of course, and nothing more, so whatever.

3) It seems Vrabel did not insist on putting inplace a GM (0r whatever they choose to call it) of his choosing and more importantly of assigning to that person or retaining himself final say on drafts/trades acquisitions. I think this is grave mistake for which he and the team will pay a price. Evidently we have not learned the obvious lesson and moved on from basing hires on the owner's emotional attachments. Utterly foolish

 

[Mack Herron]

He called Wolf, Eliot, about 12 times. I think Vrabel owns him but is presenting as collaboration.

We can think whatever we want because he did not state who will have final say over personnel. He described decision by committee. If he disguised the truth to appear friendly, that would be a concern.

 

[NashuaPats]

I missed the press conference and just found the video.

Thought I’d share it here:

 

[RobertWeathers]

He called Wolf, Eliot, about 12 times. I think Vrabel owns him but is presenting as collaboration.

Vrabel is running the show. He implied it on 98.5.

 

[RobertWeathers]

We can think whatever we want because he did not state who will have final say over personnel. He described decision by committee. If he disguised the truth to appear friendly, that would be a concern.

If Wolf and Vrabes have a "disagreement", who wins?

Wolf running to Robyn Glaser, Bob or Jonathan will get him nowhere....and if he does and Vrabes finds out, he'll crush him.

 

[Thelonious]

He called Wolf, Eliot, about 12 times. I think Vrabel owns him but is presenting as collaboration.

What EVIDENCE do you have that this is the case? Unless there is some empirical reason to do otherwise, I take people at their word, and I thought Vrabel quite clearly expressed that neither he nor any personnel guy he might bring in has final say as to roster decisions. he declined every opportunity to say otherwise. Particularly given Wolf's demonstarted incompetence under two HC's, this is a grave mistake. Your assertion to the contrary is an unsubstaniated hope, happy talk, nothing more.

 

[Brotherblues]

I think Vrabel is saying it'll be collaborative because he expects to convince everyone to see things the way he does.

Vrabel: Hey Eliot. Here's a list of our priority FA targets. Start calling.
Wolf: I was actually working on a different list, let me dig it up real quick...
Vrabel: *expressionless stare*
Wolf: You know what, it's exactly the same list as this. Great minds think alike. We are collaborating. This is awesome.
Vrabel: *alpha aura intensifies*
Wolf: I'll start calling right away.

 

[JohnJH]

They have heaping gobs of money, I don't see why having two highly paid guards is necessarily a big problem when you are protecting your QB.

I don't disagree with your premise. But, what will your solid if not Franchise LT (if they get one) is going to require for a contract? And what about Gonzo? And what about one or two #1 Caliber WR's? That money adds up.

 

[Thelonious]

Vrabel is running the show. He implied it on 98.5.

What - exactly - did he say in that venue?. He certainly did not so express himself so today, passing on several opportunities to clarify the record in a manner consistent with your assertion. The team is giving you an opportunity in the form of doubletalk to delude yourself, and you are grabbing it.

 

[Thelonious]

If Wolf and Vrabes have a "disagreement", who wins?

Wolf running to Robyn Glaser, Bob or Jonathan will get him nowhere....and if he does and Vrabes finds out, he'll crush him.

What nonsense. You spend too much time watching WWE or something. Vrabel declined several opportubnities today to assert that he or his designee has final say on the roster. Enjoy your little macho fantasy, but it is irrelevant.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

On the draft and the fourth pick he spoke about protecting the qb so i think hes thinking about taking an O-lineman early maybe even with the first pick

The impact of adding one superb and another good OL player cannot be understated. They can elevate the play of everyone else on the line. Help is easier to bring. If they make some good decisions this offseason, we aren't far from having a decent line.

 

[Steve102]

What - exactly - did he say in that venue?. He certainly did not so express himself so today, passing on several opportunities to clarify the record in a manner consistent with your assertion. The team is giving you an opportunity in the form of doubletalk to delude yourself, and you are grabbing it.

...and you are choosing to see the other side of the coin.

I think we all need to wait and see how it all rounds into form. What it is today and what it is on a week or month will probably be different.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Wolf seems like a lock to be here for the upcoming year

He has to be at least through the draft and free agency. His office has been working hard all year to lead up to those moments. You don't just take the work done an throw it away. It has great value even in you disagree with it. You have to have it and use it. Let Vrabel bring in his own guys and evaluate the work that Wolf and his team has done. If its determined they are not compatible the say goodbye.

 

[JohnJH]

Under Vrabel: Fat Mike is gonna have to lose some weight.

Fat Mike might get traded by Vrabel to a team for whatever he can get just so long as that team takes all, or at least most of his contract.

 

[varjao]

I enjoyed the section about how their first goal is to be able to "take advantage of bad football" and that he told the team already that right now he doesn't think they are capable of it. He wants them to be able to go out there and play clean, and when other teams play bad football, be able to take advantage of that and not BE the team that is playing bad football.

That's prime Belichick, situational football, players knowing the rules and when to exploit the loopholes, when to hit the gas, when to play slow and etc...I don't know when and why we lost all of that but it's been years including BB's last 5 years at least

 

[maust]

Happens all the time. It's not rocket science.

Saw what you did there.

 

[Thelonious]

...and you are choosing to see the other side of the coin.

I think we all need to wait and see how it all rounds into form. What it is today and what it is on a week or month will probably be different.

Your second sentence is an admission that you have no empirical evidence for your view, expressing as you do that we must "wait for it."This is an argument?. I have offered arguments in support of my view which I will not here repeat for the tenth time.