Get the latest Boston sports news
Receive updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
‘I hate it’: Rex Ryan reluctantly credited Mike Vrabel for ‘night and day’ Patriots turnaround
Contrasting with Ryan's sorrow, ex-Patriots Damian Woody and Tedy Bruchi excitedly declared, "We're back!"
Patriots fans got to enjoy an ESPN victory lap: After an unexpected and (from a Patriots standpoint) enjoyable win over the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday night, New England fans have been able to savor some of NFL media’s reaction to the AFC East matchup.
Among the many satisfying soundbites, two former Patriots created one of the best on an ESPN “Get Up!” segment Monday morning. After reviewing the highlights from the game, show host Mike Greenberg tried to steer the conversation toward the Bills. Ex-Patriots center Damian Woody, flanked by longtime New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi, wasn’t having it.
Advertisement:
“No, no, no, Greeny, this isn’t about the Bills,” Woody declared. “This is about the Patriots.”
“The Patriots said, ‘We’re back!'” Woody exclaimed in unison with an elated Bruschi.
“Fellas, everything I wanted to see going into this year, it came to fruition last night,” Bruschi explained of New England’s victory.
The former linebacker listed plays made by defensive backs Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones, as well as the quality offensive line contributions from rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. Eventually he singled out Drake Maye.
“A lot of great things said about him, but until you show it in a position like this against one of the best teams in the league in the fourth quarter, he does it here with these two throws,” Bruschi pointed out of Maye amid a reshowing the of the fourth quarter highlights.
Advertisement:
“This was a season-defining win for them,” Bruschi concluded from a Patriots standpoint.
On the flip side of the panel was a former Patriots opponent: Rex Ryan. The ex-head coach (of both the Jets and Bills) praised the job done so far by Mike Vrabel.
“The most impressive thing to me wasn’t Drake Maye,” Ryan said. “It was Mike Vrabel.
“Look at the difference he’s already had on this football team. It’s night and day,” Ryan continued. “They actually play defense now. They’ve got rookies all over the damn place. The whole left side of the line is rookies. [Defenses] ought to be killing them, [but] not so much.”
Eventually, Ryan couldn’t help but acknowledge his true feelings on the possibility of a rebuilt Patriots roster.
“And I hate it,” Ryan joked of a resurgent New England. “I want to see the Patriots down.”
Trivia: Per Boston.com’s Conor Ryan: “At 23 years and 36 days old, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye became the second youngest starting quarterback in NFL history to win on the road against an opposing starting QB who was the reigning MVP.”
Can you name the youngest QB to win on the road against the reigning MVP?
(Answer at the bottom).
Advertisement:
Hint: He was drafted by another AFC East team out of Pitt, and played his entire 17-season career with that franchise.
More from Boston.com:
- 5 takeaways from Red Sox’ season-ending press conference
- 5 takeaways from Bruins’ season-opening press conference
- Making sense of Bruins’ final roster cuts of training camp
- Mike Vrabel on Stefon Diggs, Drake Maye, and perspective from his father after a signature Patriots win
- Drake Maye and the Patriots are a lot more fun to watch these days, but expect some plot twists the rest of the way
- Drake Maye talks Stefon Diggs’ revenge game, UNC’s struggles on WEEI
- Nick Saban calls out Bill Belichick, Patriots coaching staff for stalling Mac Jones’ development
- Report: Patriots RB Antonio Gibson is out for the season with a torn ACL
- On ESPN’s First Take, Cam Newton praises Drake Maye for ‘unbelievable job’ vs. Bills
- Bill Belichick reportedly instructed UNC staff to not mention Patriots players on social media
Corey Dillon on getting traded to the Patriots in 2004: The former running back (and eventual Super Bowl winner) discovered news about the trade from an ESPN ticker while eating a piece of chicken.
On this day: In 1975, the Red Sox defeated the Athletics 5-3 to win the American League pennant 3-0. Rick Wise pitched seven solid innings (yielding only two runs), ending Oakland’s incredible run of three straight World Series titles.
Daily highlight: Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored one of the more unorthodox game-winning touchdowns likely to be seen this season in the Monday night victory over the Chiefs.
Trivia answer: Dan Marino
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com