We've got a bonus mini-episode for you this week! We're covering legendary player and now head coach of the New England Patriots, Mike Vrabel! Gronk and Julian Edelman discuss what makes Mike Vrabel so great and some of their favorite Vrabel stories.
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Episode Transcript
Let's get on Mike Rabel.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Mike Rabel, Hey Jules, what's the first thing you think
of when you hear the name Mike Rabel.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
The first thing that comes to my mind is just
a tough guy. He's just a tough how tough like
And actually the first thing comes to my mind as
an asshole asshole because he's just here, I mean, a
tough asshole, a tough asshole. We never played with Rabes,
but because of how legendary he heard stories, the stories
(00:36):
we're always about like three people, Rabel, Bruski, and Izzo,
and like Rabes was always at the helm of these
crazy stories, uh that just floated around the Patriots locker
room busting balls.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
That comes to my head, like I always you always
kind of.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Remember hearing how Rabes would get on to Brady and
and Brady would get on Rabes and those those wars
that practice.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
What's the first thing that comes to your mind?
Speaker 4 (01:09):
A tough soob.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
You know a football player, a guy that has knowledge
of the game as a player and as a coach,
and he's from Ohio And let me tell you, Ohio
football is underrated. And you learn a lot about you know,
football and who you are, you know as a person
as well, when you grow up in the state of Ohio.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
How do I know that?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Because I played my senior year in Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh
was a big rival. Just the state of Pennsylvania was
a big rival to the state of Ohio. And you
got the Pittsburgh versus Ohio, you know whatever that you know,
all star gets and just have you know, just our tough,
tough players come out of you know, come out of
(01:50):
the state of Ohio and Pennsylvania. They're very similar. They're
kind of underrated compared to you know, you always hear
about Florida, California, or Texas.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
All that's where all the starts working.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
All the tough guys come from, you know, the Upper East,
you know, in the US, like Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York.
But uh, he's he's a football guy football.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Did you just try to throw New York through New York?
Did you just try to sneakily throw New York football?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I did tough guys, yeah, because I'm from Buffalo and
I went to uh you know, like I said, I
went to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Year.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
But yeah, Buffalo they got some tough, tough s obs here,
I'm telling you, they got they got me, They got
my brother who played in the NFL, my other brother
who played in the NFL too, And yeah, yeah we're rolling, baby,
We're rolling. Uh what What's What stands out to me
when we were talking about him the other day though,
(02:48):
is how he was drafted in the third round to
the Pittsburgh Steelers. And you told me that fact, and
it was kind of shocking to me because I thought
he was a New England Patriot from day one because
of just all the stories that you heard about him,
just the way that he played the game when he
was in New England and what he did for you know,
the Patriots as well. So I had absolutely no clue
(03:12):
that he got drafted to the Steelers. Can you tell
me how that happened as well, how he got to
New England because you kind of were telling me a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Well, he was a teamer, I mean he played at Pittsburgh.
I think he was drafting ninety seven, was a special teamer.
And then I think once he became a free agent,
Bill like really wanted him or something.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
Was that it? Yeah, So why.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Does Bill have like this nag of just finding these
white dudes that just want to play football, just work hard,
and they're not so good at the moment, and then
he just blossomed.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
First.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I think the guy sitting next to me like that,
I mean me too, kind of.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's his projector Nikovich.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Nikovich was a long snapper Wilker Welker in Miami.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I mean what what was he just kind of a
punt returner?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, set, Yeah, he had a big year. He had
a big year at my.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Not like a huge year like he had in New
England from No, No, but he had a decent, solid
year in Miami.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
No.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
But yeah, Mike was the guy that Bill always used
a reference like you think you're smart, you're not no
frable like and that's that's when you know someone's a
smart football players when Bill's referencing him in Motherfucking you.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
You know like that.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
That was always kind of like one thing that stuck out.
And then just hearing from like Jimmy Whalen the training
staff on how Vrabel was in the locker room like hell,
Corey was like him, and Willie Mack and Brew like he.
There was like the holy trinity of guys that everyone
had to walk through that kept everyone accountable and I'm
really you know, I'm pretty excited. I'm excited for this,
(04:48):
this new generation of Patriots. Now with that said, I
I still think the whole Mayo situation that he got
the short end of the stick on this, uh And
I feel terrible for him, and I think he's gonna
do well, But like that really wasn't set up to
really succeed.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Not at all.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
I think goes a little bit unfair. But shout out
to Mayo because he's a great coach. He knows the
game of football tremendously, and you know, I just think
that it wasn't set up properly for him, And I
feel like he's gonna have some success in the future,
you know, with another organization and possibly be another head
coach down the road, you know, once he gets his
footback on the gas pedal.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
But Rabel coming in now, like.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
All this stuff that you hear keeping guys accountable, like
he's gonna be the first doing and he can get
away with saying things to guys the way he says
it because he did it, he played it, and he's
just as smart as the guys that coached him at it.
So like when you have all those things, and he's
(05:57):
a burly motherfucker. Like he's a big man. When you
shake his hands, his hands wrapped to your wrists. He's
got big ass hands, strength, man straight. I still think
he got four or six plays in him.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
You think he could play right now? Four six plays?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, four to six plays, like you know that offensive
package of New England Patriots had fro him. And talking
about that offensive package, I think he had ten catches
his whole entire career for ten touchdowns. So what a
fucking from catch the TV is one hundred percent. That's
in all time insane. And that's just how smart of
a player he was, is that he knew how to
get open on the offensive side of the ball and
(06:33):
then on top of it on the defense side of
the ball. I mean, just creative and just just how
good he was just knowing the game. You know, it
makes me so sad, though, what's sad? Because what makes
you sad? Now you're making me sad.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
No, it makes me sad because we always hear about
the stories about Brady when he was like the young
guy and the team and how Rabel and Brusky and
all these guys used to like, motherfuck him and it
was it.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Was a picked and picked on him.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
It was a completely different time that we play with
so like we and like you couldn't. There was only
a couple guys kept really good jaw with Tom, but
everyone was so scared to do it. And Tom would
be hungry to jaw with people like talk shit, but
like everyone was so scared to talk shit to Tom
because he was already Tom by then, you know, like
it was. It almost makes me like, man, I wish
(07:19):
we got to see him in those those early stages
where you were more kind of part of the boys,
instead of him being like the older brother.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Guy figure.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
You understand that Rabel was like that older brother figure
to Tom. Yeah, and we didn't get to see any
of that. We got to see the Tom where he
was our older brother and it would have been amazing
to be a part of that crew. But we were
just the second you know, era off the New England pages.
But there were so many times, like you said, in
the training room and the coaches that were around verbel like, oh,
you would have loved the guy so much, you would
(07:51):
have loved to play with him. He gives it all,
He gives it his all out on the field. I
mean he's a guy that you want to be friends
with as well in the locker room because he's just
on the be around but also at the same time,
he's gonna go all out for you out on the field.
I mean he was a grinder, I mean gritty, great
size as a player, and he was an inside outside threat, first.
Speaker 4 (08:11):
Tire out there out in the field.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
And I think that's why Bill loved him so much,
because how versatile he was a special teamer, could play
inside backer and outside backer. And when and when Bill
gets a guy like that, he utilizes their skill and
so many different aspects of the game and he makes
you a tremendous a player and he blossoms you like
no other. And that's why Bill loves those type of
(08:33):
guys when he can get him in free agency.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
One thousand percent. Think about it, like.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
He's played on every phase of the game at a
high level in an important game. He's been a teamer.
So like when he's addressing the team and he's watching
fucking the film or having like a highlight thing that
he's probably presenting the team, he can break down guy
for guy because he's done it at the pro level.
On defense. He knows everything about defense because he's you know,
(09:02):
he was he basically was in the school of doctorates
on the defense through Belichick, learning through him and then
actually being on the field and experiencing it. Is another
way he gets to coach guys and then an offense Like, yeah,
he was in a package or two, but I remember
going and going on the other side of the ball
when I had to play corner. Like even being in
(09:24):
those meeting rooms for the little amount of time that
I was, it opened up my mind so differently on
how I thought about offense when I went back to
offense and how I was attacking the defense. He's done
that on offense. So like he can break down the
whole the whole game, and he's a masculine figure that's
gonna make you do it right, and if you don't,
he's gonna motherfucker you get rid of you. He's gonna
(09:46):
make people accountable. That's how it was the Patriot way
that it was developed through these guys.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
I mean, and just just talking about his knowledge of
the game and just the mastermind he has within the
rule book of the NFL as well. Remember in the
twenty nineteen playoffs, Rabel intentionally took a twelve man on
the field penalty just to keep Brady off of the field.
I mean, he kind of outplayed Belichuck in that situation
(10:13):
because Belichuck was the master of knowing the rules inside
and out and using that to his advantage. And this
is a time when Rabel used it to his advantage
and it was against the mastermind coach Blichuck.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
So I learned that pretty incredible by him to do that.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
I learned about that little mastermind. Bullshit is when we
went to the Kentucky Derby one year and he fucking
was He was my handicapper for the horses and I
made like twenty grand, Like Rabel loves like that kind
of shit. We were sitting there and I have no
clue on how to gamble these horses, and Rabeses over
here got his dip in. I think he had a cigarette,
maybe a shot or two in him and he's fucking big. Yeah,
(10:51):
he was smoking with a dip in. I'm not joking, Dick.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
I love this guy now.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
And we go and we go to the little thing
where you have to put your shit in, and I'm like,
rays what I do? He's like don't worry at him,
and I got you. You know, he fucking puts them
on there. We hit it like a three thing parlay
or something. He's just a smart guy. He's a smart
guy that like can beat you up.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
What's the biggest thing in year one that he has
to emphasize in New England?
Speaker 4 (11:17):
What do you think, Jules, Well.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
You gotta get some lineman.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
M h. He gotta get some good point right there.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
He gotta They got a whole lot of money to spend. Now,
knowing Mike through the years that I've known him, I'm
sure he took this job knowing that he Uh, he's.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Going to be able to spend some money.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
He's in a great situation heading into his first year.
Obviously he's got Drake May who's an unbelievable quarterback. He's
going to develop him to best of his potential, no
doubt about that. Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
He was bringing in all oc.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I would say, Josh McDaniel's Josh McDaniels go there. But
he has to go through the whole process. Maybe he
has a guy or two out there that he's thinking
about bringing in, but uh, he's going through all that
hiring process. Interview I think but Josh McDaniels would be
the best face.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
He ain't. He ain't.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And I believe Josh is one of the best offensive
coinators in the league as well. I mean he knows
how to develop players. He developed, helped develop them, he developed,
you developed, put me in the right situations all the
time when I was in New England. He knows how
to relate to guys as well, which is really good.
I mean, uh, you need that, you know, with these
(12:30):
young bucks these days.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I mean, he made Mac Jones a pro bowler.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
In his rookie year and then he left and then
ain't no pro bowler from there on out.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
No, there hasn't been, hasn't been.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I will contribute all that to to most of that
to McDaniel.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
These mcdse I like that name. I never heard that.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
I don't know what about Rabel. He took Ryan Tannehill
out of Miami. Everyone thought he was going to be
out of the league, and he basically made him into
a pro bowler, basically got the number one seed in
the playoffs and almost made the Super Bowl. Yeah, you know,
a couple of years with him too. So he knows
how to develop quarterbacks. He knows how to get the
best out of guys because he brings that type of
(13:10):
energy you know, on the field in the meeting rooms
to get the best out of players. And that's why
I hear about Rabel, and that's why people love playing
for him out of the guys that I know in Tennessee.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
I think he just feel safe when you're around him.
I feel safe.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
I feel like whenever he was whenever we hang out,
we've gone out and done things together, I just feel safe.
Feels he's just burly he and he's also got the
wit and like the strategy to like if something some
shit were to happen in like a bar or something like,
he know an escape route, maybe take down like seven
eight people himself and then get us.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Like he just feel safe with the guy like Rabel.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
He's the guy you want your daughter to marry.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
I feel I don't know about that, all right, all.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Right, well, well I like what you're saying. You feel
safe around him. You want your daughter to marry someone
that you know safe around. So Jewels.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Man, I'm excited for him.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
I'm sad for Mayo.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
This is like, this is really like one of those
things where it's like a divorce. This is why I
can't New England keeps on putting me in these goddamn divorces.
I feel like a kid that's had like five divorce parents.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
What can you explain more well?
Speaker 1 (14:23):
When Bill and Brady that divorce.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Yeah, now you know, Mayo freaking Rabes that divorce, there's
like fucking hell of because we're all like intertwined, and
it's kind of like in ssual.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
You're kind of like the red headed stepchild that's just
been there throughout the whole time. That's just takes all
the beatings, but in the end you're gonna still be
standing there. Make it tough. It does make you tough,
makes you tough man. That's why you're the toughest guy
I know.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Jewels also, i'd be I'd be crazy to say that. Yeah,
our last game with Tom Brady, Ray will beat us.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
That's why Rabel's back. That's why he's back. If he
didn't win, I have his cleats over there. He didn't
win that game, he might not be back. He might
not be the head coach of the New Patriots. And
maybe he wouldn't because maybe he he sent Tom Brady
packing in his last game as a New Patriot. That's
probably his greatest Like, that's probably what he said the
(15:22):
first line in the interview. Did he say that, No,
I'm just saying I would. But hey, mister Kraft, who
sent Tom Packins, I bet you he said that.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
I bet you has no filter where he probably would
say ship like that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
He's he's the only player to have two touchdowns in
a sack in a game offense and defense.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I mean his versatility.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Is there any other coach out there that you think
could beat up Rabel?
Speaker 1 (15:47):
I think a good fight would be Dan Campbell and him.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Oh but.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
That's I'm taking Rabes because Rabes d n Camble. He
was a tight end.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
Yeah, so what what are you saying about tight ends? Jewels?
They're just not that tough. They're not as tough as.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I agree, you're one of one.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Ain't as tough as d ns, and the d ns
are beastly, man, Deans are huge.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
You gotta be fearless.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Mika Ryan's he could be in there.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
They all say McDermott is like a wrestler, Iowa wrest
But I'm I think Rabes is a wrestler too. And
Rabes used to go against fucking Steve Neil all the time,
which Steve Neil was World champions, So Rabes already got
a little in on that. So I think he's I
think Rabes is taking it's just weight weight class on
on McDermott. And he may have the skilled technique, but
(16:40):
Rabel would swallow him. Oh ship, What kind of dude
is Mike Rabel.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
I mean he's stunned, no doubt about it. Football IQ's
up there the pedigree. He's also a wizard. He does
in every position.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
He also has he dies. I mean, he's got the
best chin in football other than like the coach coward
having a nice chinz style, Like he looks like the
Ohio guy. When you put Ohio guy in dictionary for
like recruit, it's like big white guy, big chin looks
like Mustafa from fucking Beauty in the Beast.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Yeah, I never seen Beauty in the Beasts or is
that one?
Speaker 4 (17:21):
I don't Knowstaf you know, Gustav or something, Yeah, I
never seen it.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Freak.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
I mean he he had like man strength, That's what
everyone always talked about. His man's strength.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
Dog.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Definitely a dog.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
No doubt. He could be a lot of guy I
was thinking Whiz. I was gonna go with Wiz.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
I mean, just how clutch he was in situations and
just how knowledgeable he was.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
He's a he's a dude's dude in the patriot world,
like in bizarro world, which is not really like everywhere
else where, Like being an asshole and bullying is like
being positive there, So you know that's positive because it
makes you accountable. So I wouldn't put him in the
overall category of dudes, due I would go
Speaker 1 (18:11):
On three, what do you think One's go on three one, two, three,
Whiz
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