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Mike Vrabel Already Going at Patriots Media as Camp Gets Underway

New Patriots head coach blasts a media member in a recent press conference at training camp.
ByRyan Kennedy|
May 9, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks the to media during a press conference at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
May 9, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks the to media during a press conference at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Heading into training camp, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel took questions about the team's readiness. The dead period of the summer after OTAs doesn’t lead to a lot of breaking news or updates, and the media is typically chomping at the bit to get access to the team. This season is particularly newsworthy for the Patriots media, as the Patriots are coming off their second straight head coaching change.

The Patriots have lots to discuss: the development of Drake Maye, the addition of Stefon Diggs and his recovery, the rookie class, and the change in culture being set by Coach Vrabel are all exciting topics to discuss. At the same time, there are lots of things on the coaching staff’s mind: implementing new systems, selecting captains, and roster development. One of the last things on the coaching staff’s mind is the media’s performance.

Press conferences are required and, for a coach like Vrabel, they are one of the pain points of a head coaching job. Vrabel saw the approach that former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick took. Vrabel certainly doesn’t hold the same disdain for the media that Belichick did, but at the same time, he has a no-nonsense approach both on and off the field.

Patriots insider Ben Volin found this out the hard way after asking Vrabel a question that the coach thought he already had a sufficient answer to.

"Whether you were in a coma when I answered Tom’s question, or typing on your phone or tweeting, I don’t know. But I spent five minutes answering that question."
Mike Vrabel

Vrabel clearly believes that if he is going to be required to be at these press conferences, he expects the media to respect his time.

While hilarious that Vrabel put Volin on blast, it also speaks to the tone Vrabel intends to set inside and outside of Foxboro. If Vrabel is going to spend his time taking these questions seriously, his expectation is that the media will pay attention as well. This puts the media on notice that they need to bring their A-game.

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