This offseason, Mike Vrabel was employed because the New England Patriots’ head coach. It’s a homecoming for Vrabel, who gained three Tremendous Bowls with the Patriots when he was a participant. Nonetheless, his NFL journey didn’t begin there. He was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers within the third spherical of the 1997 NFL Draft. Not too long ago, Vrabel shared a comic story from his first coaching camp with the Steelers
“Greg Lloyd was a really dominant participant, imposing determine,” Vrabel mentioned Monday by way of the Patriots’ YouTube channel. “I obtained drafted in April and he didn’t say a phrase to me the complete offseason. We obtained to coaching camp, there’s a combat with me and a good finish.
“I’m exhausted after apply, and I see this shadow come over me as I’m sitting within the locker room. And on this deep voice, he’s like, ‘The subsequent time, you wish to come up beneath the facemask.’ I’m like, ‘You simply now are gonna discuss to me?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, I simply needed to be sure to weren’t a punk after which I’d discuss to you.’ It’s a great instance of a veteran ensuring rookies earn their stripes.”
Lloyd was an edge rusher for the Steelers from 1987-1997. Regardless of being close to the top of his profession when Vrabel obtained to Pittsburgh, Lloyd wasn’t any much less intimidating. Nobody needed to be on his unhealthy aspect.
Fights occur in coaching camp. It’s the primary time in the course of the offseason that gamers actually get again into the swing of issues. Tempers can run excessive. Final yr, the Steelers had a number of brawls escape in coaching camp. Mike Tomlin chastised them for that, displaying a disdain for these moments. Preventing isn’t often one thing coaches wish to see, but it surely’s a great likelihood to be taught a lesson.
As a head coach now, Vrabel understands that. He’s not selling combating in coaching camp. Nonetheless, he’s explaining how veterans can deal with rookies. In Lloyd’s heyday, the NFL was a way more bodily place, and the Steelers prided themselves on being one of many hardest-hitting defenses within the league. Due to this fact, it isn’t shocking that he waited to see Vrabel’s mettle get examined earlier than he talked to him.
The Steelers are set to face Vrabel’s Patriots in Week 3 this season. Nonetheless, it’s not the primary time that he’ll coach in opposition to his former group. When he was the pinnacle coach of the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel performed the Steelers thrice. Sadly for him, he misplaced all of these video games.
Vrabel will probably be seeking to change that this yr. The Patriots had the Steelers’ quantity when Invoice Belichick and Tom Brady had been with them, so perhaps that may assist change Vrabel’s luck. Nonetheless, in recent times, the Patriots haven’t been what they was. Vrabel’s squad would possibly must recapture a few of that old-school physicality if the Patriots wish to beat the Steelers.
