Patriots/NFL Patriots hiring Mike Vrabel, a franchise Hall of Famer, as head coach

[Dreghorn2]

They may wish to move quickly, but they better get it right this time.

Again, it is inexplicable to me that the Krafts did not instruct Mayo to lose the game.

It has been suggested, by Chad Finn I believe, that the "win" may have been an act of defiance on the part of the head coach, who must have known he was on the way out.

A middle finger salute and shiv in the back, as it were.

Has there been further reporting on this?

Going to be tough finding anyone to go on record about instructions to throw games, or defiance of those orders.

 

[Johnnyduke]

What is the informal thread consensus about HC hopefuls, if there is one?

The one thing I don't understand is the people who say "they can't go with a first time head coach here". There are tons of examples of first time head coaches working out. There are tons of examples of recycled head coaches not working out. There's risk with any hire you make.

I personally would lean towards the offensive minded coach to work with Maye. That way you're less concerned if you lose your OC to a head job down the line. If you go with someone like Vrabel you better have a specific plan for your offensive coaching staff where you are creating a pipeline of coaches from OC, QB coach and on down so that if the OC leaves you can promote from within and not miss a beat.

Going to be tough finding anyone to go on record about instructions to throw games, or defiance of those orders.

Wasn't this part of Flores lawsuit against the league? He said Stephen Ross basically told him to lose games. Can't have stuff like that. At least not that direct.

Will Johnson at 4 wouldnt be bad or Graham. Not big on the OTs in the first

Sign me up for either of these guys.

 

[GordonHowe]

Going to be tough finding anyone to go on record about instructions to throw games, or defiance of those orders.

I would think so.

But in journalism, we call it "on background, off the record, anonymous sources."

The truth, so called, will out one way or another.

Or my name isn't CHB.

 

[jgatie]

I would think so.

But in journalism, we call it "on background, off the record, anonymous sources."

The truth, so called, will out one way or another.

Or my name isn't CHB.

Ha! You used "truth" and "CHB" in the same post. Thanks for the laugh!

 

[GordonHowe]

Ha! You used "truth" and "CHB" in the same post. Thanks for the laugh!

I aim to please.

Actually, though no longer a regular viewer of the NFL for various reasons, I find the entire circumstance highly entertaining.

I don't mind a rebuild, at least from afar, because this too is part of the sporting experience as a fan. We've had plenty of success. Now for the growing pains.

 

[GatorMike]

 

[GatorMike]

 

[GordonHowe]

12 reasons why the 2024 Patriots season turned into a disaster for Jerod Mayo, Robert Kraft

Several factors — both due to Jerod Mayo and things out of the first-year coach's control — led to disaster for the Patriots in 2024.

www.boston.com

What Bill Belichick said about Patriots’ decision to fire Jerod Mayo

The Patriots’ decision to fire Jerod Mayo just over an hour after the 2024 regular season wrapped has led to several strong reactions from former Patriots players — many of whom believe that the first-year head coach was put in a bad spot by Robert Kraft and Eliot Wolf. Granted, if there was...

www.google.com

 

[Johnnyduke]

Bold move by the Bengals

 

[GatorMike]

 

[Carl Hungus]

man people really can't handle a rebuild, even after years of having a dominant team

 

[Therick67]

man people really can't handle a rebuild, even after years of having a dominant team

I can handle a rebuild, just not a half assed one that doesn't make sense,.

 

[EverettMike]

I can handle a rebuild, just not a half assed one that doesn't make sense,.

What was the rebuild? They re-signed all their own players and had Mayo as HC and Wolf as GM. It wasn't a rebuild, it was just blaming Belichick for everything and thinking without him they'd be fine.

 

[Therick67]

What was the rebuild? They re-signed all their own players and had Mayo as HC and Wolf as GM. It wasn't a rebuild, it was just blaming Belichick for everything and thinking without him they'd be fine.

Agreed, they should have cleaned house right from the start..

 

[EverettMike]

Agreed, they should have cleaned house right from the start..

Also maybe don't promise the job of head coach to someone five years ahead of time because you like their travel vibes?

 

[UncleRico]

What was the rebuild? They re-signed all their own players and had Mayo as HC and Wolf as GM. It wasn't a rebuild, it was just blaming Belichick for everything and thinking without him they'd be fine.

It wasn’t a rebuild. It was Kraft going with the cheapest possible options.

 

[Therick67]

Also maybe don't promise the job of head coach to someone five years ahead of time because you like their travel vibes?

Bob thought he could plug anyone in and they'd be successful, just because..

This team needs a football guy to run the show.

 

[Mione134]

Take him.

Go ahead Bengals!

 

[Johnnyduke]

Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich have a combined 0% chance at this job.

 

[GatorMike]

Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich have a combined 0% chance at this job.

But they fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement.

 

[Johnnyduke]

man people really can't handle a rebuild, even after years of having a dominant team

Hold on now. The rebuild did not just start. The rebuild started the second Tom Brady walked out the door. That was 5 years ago now and they are on their 2nd rebuild in that five year span. It's been an unmitigated disaster with no clear direction.

But they fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement.

Yes and that is my problem with the rule. Because there is also a 0% chance either guy gets ANY head coaching job.

Zolak and Betrand with a good point just now. There are certain minority candidates they CAN'T interview yet so interviewing guys like Hamilton and Leftwich allows them to fulfill the rule and fast track their hiring process. So, a sham.

 

[Smitty93]

Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich have a combined 0% chance at this job.

The most obvious 'we had to interview someone so we're doing these guys a favor since they're unemployed' Rooney Rule interview ever.

My guess is if Ben Johnson wows them this week, they'll have a serious competition between him and Vrabel. Otherwise, Vrabel is announced by the end of next week.

 

[Boston Bandit]

Rex Ryan '100%' believes he'll be next Jets coach, gives blunt plan for Aaron Rodgers — USA TODAY

"Oh, 100%. Absolutely, I do," he said. "And the reason I think I'm going to get it is because I'm the best guy for it. It ain't close. The thing you have to do is, you have to connect with your football team, you have to connect with your fan base. The way they play, that's the most important thing. It's not just the Xs and Os and all that. This (Detroit Lions offensive coordinator) Ben Johnson, I love him, I absolutely love him, but I'm a better candidate for this job than he would be."

The former Jets' head coach's appearance on ESPN New York also included his plans for handling veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Ryan told "DiPietro & Rothenberg," "If he's back, it ain't gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up. That ain't gonna happen," Ryan said.

Last year, the then-40-year-old quarterback missed the Jets' mandatory minicamp to go to Egypt on vacation. Rodgers chalked up the absence to a scheduling mishap at the time, and New York fined him $100,000 for what former head coach Robert Saleh called an "unexcused absence."

"Clearly, when you have a guy that doesn't show up for mandatory minicamp – and, by the way, he's your quarterback, coming off an injury – I think that's an absolutely ridiculous message you send to the team," Ryan said.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Vrabel is an upgrade. Is he great? Meh. We shall see. 13-21 last 2 seasons with Titans. Averages out to 6.5 wins 10.5 losses per season. Pats worst roster in NFL. Is 5-11 considered a success next season?

Bit of a cherry pick here.

Vrabel was 54-45 in 6 seasons in TEN (9-5 per season). He never had a QB there (Mariota, Tanehill, Levis as a rookie). His relationship with the GM (Robinson) seemed fine until said GM decided to not pay AJ Brown, traded him and then never replaced him. Robinson was fired the next year and Vrabel favored the interim GM, who had been a personnel guy with the Titans for a while. The owner decided to hire a GM from the 49ers (I believe) and Vrabel was canned the next year.

There is a really good article in the Athletic about Vrabel. It’s worth the read:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6034054/2025/01/03/mike-vrabel-nfl-coaching-browns-year-off/?source=user_shared_article

 

[DKH]

Rooney Rule qualifications and also as potential OC