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‘That team’s not going away’: Mike Vrabel on the Bills, Patriots’ chances of clinching AFC East
Vrabel was also asked if he's tried Ann Michael Maye's baked goods.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stopped by WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Monday morning for his weekly interview, discussing a range of topics as his team emerges from its bye week in preparation to play the Bills on Dec. 14.
The Patriots’ coach said that he watched football on Sunday, keeping tabs on his team’s upcoming opponent.
“Watched the Bills and the Bengals,” Vrabel replied when asked which games he took in during his day off.
As the team regroups on Monday following the much needed period of rest, Vrabel gave a basic outline of the approach.
“Well I think we’re going to meet this morning and we’re going to go over the stuff that we feel like we’ve done well up until this point, talk about the things that can improve, that we have to improve, but not lose sight of the things that we’ve done well,” he said.
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“Trying to be positive, but truthful I think is something that we’re going to focus on.”
Here are a few other topics he covered:
Using the word champion
Vrabel was questioned about his usage of the word “champion,” which he referenced both in talking to his team following the win over the Giants last Monday, and again in a press conference with reporters the following day.
Is he reluctant to use that word, given that there are still so many hurdles to clear before a potential Super Bowl appearance?
“Well, it’s what we’re playing for,” Vrabel responded. “We’re playing for a championship this week. Each week you have a new opportunity, a new message. This is a championship week for us, an opportunity to win the AFC East, something that this team hasn’t done in five years. Buffalo has done it five years in a row.”
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The Patriots (11-2) lead the Bills (9-4) by multiple games, and can clinch the division title with a win on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
“We didn’t start saying, ‘Oh, we’re going to win the Super Bowl in November,'” Vrabel added. “It’s just conversations that I have with the team to try to focus on things that we need to try to do, and want to do.”
On the topic of the Bills, he was quick to point out that Buffalo is very much still alive in the chase for the division title. Vrabel has consistently used a “no naps” expression, to remind his players to not relax even things are going well.
“That team’s not going away,” he said of the Bills. “They have a quarterback who is an MVP quarterback that under any circumstances is going to be ready to win the football with whatever running or throwing that he has to do, and then whenever they need a play, he seems to make it.”
Is there a “secret sauce” to bye week success?
Reminded that he is 6-0 in his head coaching career coming off bye week, Vrabel was queried if he has a “secret sauce” to that winning formula.
“Well if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you,” Vrabel joked in response. He took issue with the notion that he needs to work to motivate his players.
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“Motivated? I’ve been through this. Do we think that professional athletes need to be motivated?” he said, appearing dubious.
“I think they need to be inspired,” Vrabel continued. “You try to inspire them by giving them confidence, and the trust in doing their job that when they go out there that they know what to do, that they trust the guy next to them, that they’re prepared, and that they feel like this is going to give them a chance to win.”
Ann Michael Maye’s baked goods
A final question that Vrabel fielded in the interview pertained to Ann Michael Maye (wife of Drake Maye), who has cultivated a following of more than 190,000 on TikTok due to her baking recipes.
Has Vrabel tried some of her desserts?
“There was an apple crisp bar,” he said.
“Yeah, delicious,” added Vrabel. “She brings them in for the O-linemen.”
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