🏈 One “Mike” [Vrabel]

Good Morning, Boston.

On this day in 2013 … Wes Welker went off for 131 yards on eight catches — including this sweet one-hander — as the Patriots stomped the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round. Seems like he could teach our young receivers a thing or two … maybe as New England’s next wide receivers coach?

WHAT’S ON TAP TODAY:

Bruins snap the streak

The wrath of Mrs. Mayo

Sidney the assassin

LET’S GET INTO IT…

LEADING OFF

Patriots get their man … by doing it their way

Mike Vrabel: New England’s new head coach. That was quick. Less than a week after firing Jerod Mayo, the Patriots turned from one former linebacker to another, hiring Vrabel to replace him. Though the Pats were reportedly impressed by Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s interview, this was Vrabel’s job to lose. That does make some sense given Vrabel’s past head-coaching experience and familiarity with the organization. But the stability he’s expected to bring comes at a cost.

The process of hiring Vrabel was ugly … Robert Kraft showed such utter disdain for the Rooney Rule and obvious favoritism toward Vrabel that Detroit defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, a highly qualified head coach candidate, declined to interview for the gig. A day after interviewing Johnson via Zoom, the Patriots were already working on Vrabel’s contract. In actuality, the Pats did as much of a “search” this year as they did when they hired Mayo last year: none. 

… and it wasn’t the first time, either. This will be the fourth time the Patriots have cut corners on searching for coaches in as many years:

• Elevating Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to run the offense instead of hiring a real OC in 2022

• Operating another sham interview process to hire Bill O’Brien in 2023 after Patricia and Judge catastrophically failed 

• Picking Mayo without interviewing Vrabel or other coaches after firing Bill Belichick

• Tabbing Vrabel when Mayo faltered

But hey, fourth time’s the charm?

The Patriots can’t shake their “way.” The Krafts, like Bill Belichick, appear to be allergic to trusting outsiders, no matter how qualified they are, and doing things “by the book.” Beyond that, they seem desperate to re-create the Patriots’ glory days as best they can. The problem: it’s impossible to replicate Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and the Pats’ attempts to do that rather than adapt to their new reality have held them back since Brady left.

Let’s hope Vrabel’s as good as advertised. Let’s get one thing straight: Vrabel’s a good NFL head coach. He should immediately make the Patriots more competitive in 2025. But the Patriots may have missed a chance to elevate Drake Maye’s development with an innovative offensive coach — just to look respectable again. If it works, it’ll look like genius. If not, maybe the Krafts should just re-hire Belichick. Why not, right?

POLL

🤔 Over or under: 7.5 wins for the Patriots in 2025 with Mike Vrabel?

BOSTON SPORTS

Quick hits & headlines

Brad Marchand, Bruins get the last laugh. A few days after the B’s captain eviscerated WEEI’s Rich Keefe for a report that he and David Pastrnak aren’t getting along, Marchand trolled back with this IG photo before Pastrnak’s seeing-eye overtime-winner on Saturday against the Panthers. Who knew the “energy shift” the B’s needed was the power of friendship? 

The Red Sox switch up the style. “Out” with the Sox’s blue alternate jerseys, and “in” with the Monster green, according to Sox insider Rob Bradford. Hopefully, they don’t just rip off their old St. Patrick’s Day uniforms or the Celtics’ City Edition threads. Thankfully, Boston’s yellow “City Connect” jerseys are reportedly sticking around (probably because Boston is seemingly 102-5 while wearing them). 

Jerod Mayo’s wife sounds off. The ex-Pats coach hasn’t spoken since his firing last week, but his wife, Chantel, called out the media Friday for pushing “fake stories” about Mayo after his ouster: “What happened to class?” If there’s one thing we needed to close this circle, it was a Mayo making headlines in the press.

Sidney Morin’s overtime silencer lifts Fleet. The Olympic gold medalist saw Pastrnak’s game-winner on Saturday and raised him one of her own to lift the Fleet to victory over Ottawa in overtime. But this one — her second of the game — didn’t need a lucky bounce to find the back of the net. Advantage: Morin.

Jets reportedly tried to steal Vrabel. The Patriots’ hated division rival made “late pushes” to land the veteran coach, but Vrabel only had eyes for New England. That’s not the only “L” he’ll hand them this year; book it.

LAST CALL

Who you got?

If you could put one non-QB on the Bills and put him on the Patriots, who would it be? — @AlonsoCervera_.

Fun thought exercise.

There are about five different answers that could work here, but I think the best answer is probably LT Dion Dawkins. Slot receiver Khalil Shakir is better than any WR on the Patriots, but the gap between Dawkins — who Pro Football Focus graded as the 33rd-best tackle out of 141 — and both Vederian Lowe (103rd) and Demontrey Jacobs (138th) is seismic. The Patriots need better outside playmakers, but getting even average offensive line play would change this team completely.

Trading Triston?

GAME … SET … MEME

Dynamic duo

The next Brady-Belichick combo? Not likely, but at the least their press conferences will probably be much more fun. Can’t wait for Vrabel to have his first annoyed walk-off after a reporter doesn’t abandon a line of questioning he doesn’t like.

🗞 That’s a wrap. I’m going to try not to be the first person on the wrong end of a Vrabel stare-down.

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