FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel jumped right into a pile of gamers at Wednesday’s observe with the Washington Commanders and got here out with a bloodied cheek, which caught the eye of gamers within the ensuing huddle.
“That is what we’re making an attempt to construct, and it begins with the pinnacle coach — depth, bringing it day by day, taking no crap after we’re on the market on the sector,” quarterback Drake Maye mentioned. “The mentality, I prefer it. That is what you need.”
Vrabel later held a bag of ice on his proper cheek. The scrum that Vrabel entered got here after rookie operating again TreVeyon Henderson stepped as much as execute a block in blitz pickup in opposition to the Commanders’ protection, and abruptly, a number of gamers have been piled up on the sector.
“Move professional is bodily. It is a bodily sport. Issues occur on the market,” Maye mentioned. “There is a time the place clearly you do not wish to come out right here and struggle and get into hassle. On the identical time, you do not wish to again down from no person. So I am positive Coach will preach that we will not have that, however on the identical time, type of at the back of our minds, that is type of how we wish to play — the depth, when the whistle goes, play exhausting, and when the whistle stops, get off and get away.”
Maye mentioned Vrabel joked that the crew will return and evaluation the movie of Vrabel within the scrum. No gamers have been ejected from observe, and the commotion was extinguished rapidly.
“He is proper there with us, man. I feel that participant comes out in him somewhat bit too,” tight finish Hunter Henry mentioned.
Receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas mentioned Vrabel’s willingness to leap into the fray confirmed how a lot he had his gamers’ backs — and his humorousness.
“I mentioned, ‘Coach, what’s improper with you?’ And he mentioned, ‘It’s best to have seen the opposite man,'” Douglas relayed with a smile. “I simply noticed the scar on his face, however I did not know what occurred.”
The Patriots host the Commanders in each groups’ preseason opener Friday (7:30 p.m. ET).
Veteran offensive deal with Morgan Moses, who’s in his first season taking part in underneath Vrabel, referred to him as a gamers’ coach — noting his background as an outdoor linebacker with the Steelers, Patriots and Chiefs over 14 seasons.
“He loves what he does. Any time you bought a coach you see on the market carrying pads and getting punched by guys and doing drills, it makes you wish to go more durable,” Moses mentioned. “He understands the method as a participant and a coach.”
ESPN’s John Keim contributed to this report.
