Here’s what Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers had to say as he spoke to reporters on July 24, 2025:
On how he’s feeling:
“I feel real good. I feel real good. I’ll feel better when we’re in pads, though.”
On the feeling amongst the group under Mike Vrabel and what that’s been like:
“We just buying in, getting to know each other, getting to see how he wants us to play, and then practicing to that. Everyone’s hungry, but right now it’s still too early. We’re in shorts and helmets right now. But it’s just the little things coming together, learning the system, building that condition, and things like that.”
On how important it is for someone like him, a veteran leader, to establish what he wants all the way down through the guys:
“I think that’s on the veterans to do that, be that bridge from the coaches to the younger players. We’ve been around, seen a lot of football, been in a lot of systems, know how things work, know what works and what doesn’t work, and know how to stick around. I pride myself on being that guy to help the younger guys see things, how they want them to see it, things like that. But the young guys do a good job of buying that. It’s pretty easy with this group.”
On what it’s been like having Terrell Williams back:
“It’s tremendous. He was checking in on us via FaceTime or Zoom, but I was just glad to have his presence, his intensity, cracking jokes, making the meeting room a little lively because you need that in camp.”
On the fact Drake Maye said yesterday that the guys who have been around here for a few years are tired of losing and if he sees that as the mentality:
“Well, no one likes to lose. We’re not trying to dwell on what happened in the years prior. We’re here right now with a wonderful opportunity in front of us. We got a lot of guys that see the game the same way. You just got to buy into that. Put the work in, and what you put in, you get out.”
On the change in the scheme being more aggressive and disruptive, and how much that changes things on the back end:
“I mean, we’re going to do what we got to do the way we have to do it. I’m not going to sit and talk about a scheme or whatever. But we got a lot of guys that have a lot of ability to play a bunch of different places and make plays on the ball and in the run game. So we’re going to play our guys to our strengths, play together, communicate, and good things should happen for us.”
On the fact it seemed like a pretty blitz-heavy practice, and what his impressions are:
“It’s still early stages of camp. We still have a bunch of installs to go, but it’s good to get some pressure back there. It’s good to run around, put the helmet back on, things like that. But once the pads come on, that’ll be the real tell-tale.”
On Mike Vrabel wearing the #5 pinny working in the defense:
“I keep telling him, take that five off. He’s not tough enough, but he told me to go check in on the Patriots Hall of Fame. So there’s nothing I can say to come back from that.”
On if he keeps them on their toes throughout the day:
“Absolutely. Just the questions he asks, make sure guys are taking notes. They might ask you a question from something from OTAs that we’re professionals, so you’re entitled to remember that. Just things like that. Being hard on you, coaching your hard, keeping the standard to standard, not too many pats on the back, just how you can get better at doing things.”
On if it’s just in meetings, or in passing …
“Yeah, just passing. Anytime you see Vrabes, be ready to answer a question. That’s my mindset.”
On if he’s gotten him yet:
” No, he ain’t got me yet.”
On the fact he was very forthcoming back in the spring about last year being a forgettable year and how important it is for him to get off to a good start this summer, these practices, and preseason ahead of the regular season:
“Absolutely. It’s always important to get a good start, regardless. But especially going into a new system, new coaches, gelling together, getting on the same page. It’s always good to get the ball rolling early.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
