Here’s what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say prior to Round One of Thursday night’s draft:
OPENING STATEMENT:
“Again, I just want to reiterate the gratitude that I had the other day that you guys have shown in a personal and private matter. I want to address the news regarding my current situation. I understand that, there are questions, but I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about— my family, this football team, the organization, and our fans.”
“My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t. And what I believe is best for the two most important things in my life, my family and this football team, is for us to take the necessary steps to work together and to give them what I told them I’d give them, which is the best version of me. And that’s what we’re going to do. And that’s going to start— that has started, that’ll continue this weekend, and it’ll continue for however long it takes. for me to give them and to complete that promise of giving them the best version of me possible. And that’s what’s going to happen, and that’s what’s been happening.”
“I’m grateful for Robert and Jonathan for their support. I’m thankful for the coaches and their support. Most especially, I’m thankful for the players. They’re the ones that allow us to win games. They’re the ones that allow us to coach them. And I appreciate their support. We got a lot of great men in there, and I appreciate each and every one of them. Like I told you before, my priorities are my family and this football team, and in that order and there’s a balance there that I am going to create. And my family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be. But I’m confident in the people that we have. I’m confident in the preparation. I’m thankful for Eliot [Wolf] and his staff that have prepared us for this night, for this weekend. I ask that somehow you can allow those players that we bring on to this football team, allow them the excitement and joy of recognizing a dream and starting a journey. I hope that you can do that and again, I’m focused on this team moving forward. And out of respect to my family, I won’t have any more comments or answers to touch on. And I appreciate it.”
“Thank you.”
On what made Saturday the best time to step away other than a time later when the draft isn’t going on?
“When you prioritize your family first and your job, that’s what’s required, and that’s what was necessary. Got a lot of support from everybody involved, and so that’s what I was able to do, and willingly, and I want to do that, and that’s important to me. But there’s also a balance there. When my family needs me, I’ll be there. And I know that there’s a way to give them the best version of me, and also provide and get what I need from my family and also from this football team.”
On if he anticipates missing any other football activities in the coming weeks?
“I can’t answer that. I can only say that whatever my family needs, that’s what I’m going to provide. But I also understand what’s needed for me here. This is an exciting time. We just finished our first week. Guys are excited. I see leaders developing – the new players that we brought on to the team. And I’m confident that if I, if I weren’t able to be here, that we have people in place that can support them and do those things. So I’m not sure what’s going to be needed of me, but I just know that I’m going to take the necessary steps with the people that I care about. That’s my family and this team.”
On the fact it was reported that even though you would be away from the team on Saturday, tending to family business, he would still be in communication with the team, and if he can explain that:
“Well, I mean, I’ll obviously try to be, to communicate with Eliot and Ryan [Cowden] and Stretch [John Streicher] or Robert, if you know, that’s necessary, but I don’t anticipate, I mean, I have to do, what’s needed of me with my family. And, you know, so again, I’m confident that whatever they need, I’m going to provide. And I am excited about the work that everybody’s done, Eliot and his staff, to get us here to this point. And I’m confident that just like last year, we’ll come out of this draft with players that our fans are going to enjoy watching, and they’re going to be great teammates and they’re going to help us win.”
On if he feels like he has to re-prove himself to the guys that were in this locker room last year?
“I have to— I just have to make them a priority. That’s what I have to do. I have to make my family and this football team the priority. And I’m excited about giving them the best version of me possible. And being able to coach and teach and develop and all those things that we talk about, that we believe in, that we know that are important.”
On if he can explain how over just the last 2.5 weeks we go from his original statement about any insinuation that the photos were anything other than innocent was laughable, to his comments Tuesday, to now deciding to go to counseling, and what that process is:
“Well, that’s a private and personal matter. I don’t think that those comments… I think that that was – always an attempt to protect your family and I would never be dismissive. But no, I think my family and this football team are the most important thing and that’s what I plan to do. And I’m excited about the challenge with both of those things.”
“Thank you. Appreciate it.”
(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.
