Games with Names - Dudes on Mike Vrabel

Episode Date: December 27, 2025

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.Support the show: http://www.gameswithnames.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You hear that? That's the sound of the group chat going off when your fantasy team scores another touchdown in the playoffs. I'm J.J. Zachary-Eason, host of the Late Round Fantasy Football podcast. Every move matters this time of year, so tune in daily to help build a championship roster to beat your friends, your family, and that one co-worker who won't stop talking. Literally. Listen to Late Round Fantasy Football on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks.

On Move the Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up? It's Cam Jordan.

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Let's get on Mike Vrable. Mike Rable, ladies and gentlemen. Hey, Jules, what's the first thing you think of when you hear to name Mike Brable? 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

is an asshole asshole you because he's just I mean a tough asshole a tough asshole okay there we go

we never played with Brabbs but because of how legendary he was we've only heard stories the stories were always about like three people Vrable

brusky and Izzo and like Brabs was always at the helm of these crazy stories that just floated around the Patriots locker room. Busting balls, that comes to my head. Like, I always,

you always kind of remember hearing how Braves would get on to Brady and Brady would get on Braves and those wars at practice. What's the first thing that comes to your mind? A tough SOB, 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. How do I know that? 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 games was. and just have, you know, just are tough people.

Tough players come out of, you know, come out of 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, Texas, all that's where all the stars come from, but all the tough guys come from, you know, the Upper East, you know, in the U.S., like Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York. But he's a football guy, football legend. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Did you just try to throw New York?

Yeah, I threw New York in there. Did you just try to sneakily throw New York football in to tough guys? Yeah, because I'm from Buffalo. And I went to, you know, like I said, I went to Pittsburgh. I'll let that slide. I'll let that slide in your year. But yeah, Buffalo, they got some tough, tough ass 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. Freaking raves. What stands out to me when we were talking about him the other day, though, is how he was drafted in the third round to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 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 the Patriots as well. so I had absolutely no clue 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

about that too. He was a teamer. I mean, he played at Pittsburgh. I think he was drafted in 97. It was a special teamer. And then I think once he became a free agent, Bill like really wanted him or something. Was that it? Yeah, so.

Why 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. Versatile guys. I think there's a guy sitting next to me like that. I mean, me too kind of. That's his project. Nikovic. Nikovic was a long

snapper. Welker. In Miami? I mean, what was he just kind of a punt returner? Yeah, but I think he had 70 catches. He had a big year. He had a big year at Miami. Not like a huge year like he had in New England for all these years. But he had a decent solid year in Miami. No, but

yeah. Mike was the guy that Bill always used to reference like you think you're smart you're not no frable like and that's when you know someone's a smart football player is when Bill's referencing him

in motherfucking you you know like that that was always kind of like one thing that stuck out and then just hearing from like Jimmy Wayland the training staff on how Vrabel was in the locker room like hell Corey was like him and Willie Mack and Brew

like 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 this new generation of Patriots now with that said I still think the whole Mayo situation that he got the short end of the stick on this and I feel terrible for him and I think he's going to do well but like that really wasn't set up to to really succeed Not at all. I think it was 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 going to 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 foot back on the gas pedal. But Vrabel coming in now, like all this stuff that you hear keeping guys. accountable like he's going to be the first doing it and he can 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 smarter as the guys that coached him at it so like when you have all those things and he's a burly motherfucker like he's a big man when you shake his hands his hands wrapped to your wrist he's got big

ass hands man strength man strength i still think he got four or six plays in them. Mm-hmm. You think he could play right now? Four six plays. Yeah, four to six plays. Like, you know that offensive package,

the New England Patriots had for him. And talking about that offensive package, I think he had 10 catches his whole entire career for 10 touchdowns. So what a fucking, what a ratio from catch to TD is 100% best of 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 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 what makes me so sad though what's that because what makes you sad now you're making me sad no it makes me sad because we always hear about the stories about brady when he was like the young guy in the team and how rable and brusky and all these guys used to like mother fuck him and it was it was a complete and picked on time picked on him it was a completely different tom that we played 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 always makes me like man I wish we got to see him in those early stages where you were more kind of part of the boys instead of him being like the older brother

guy figure you understand and Braybo was like that older brother figure to Tom yeah and we didn't get to see any of that we got to see the time where he was our older brother and it would have been amazing to be a part of that crew but we're just the second you know era of the new England pages but there were so many times like you said in the training room and the coaches that were around were able like oh you would have loved the guy so much you would have loved to play with him yeah he gives it all his 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 fun to be around but also at the same time he's going to go all out for you out on the field I mean he was a grinder yeah I mean gritty, great size as a player, and he was an inside, outside threat as a player out there out in the field. 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 Bill gets a guy like that, he utilizes their skill in 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 guys when he can get him in free agency. 1,000% think about it like 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 he was he basically was in the school of 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 guy. And then in offense, like, yeah, he was on 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 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 going to make you do it right. And if you don't, he's going to motherfucker you get rid of you. He's going to make people accountable. That's how it was. The Patriot way that it was developed through these guys. I mean, and just just talking about his knowledge of the game and just the mastermind he has within the rulebook of the NFL as well. Remember in the 2019 playoffs, Rable intentionally took a 12 man on the field penalty just to keep Brady

off of the field. I mean, he kind of outplayed Belichick in that situation because Belichick was the master of knowing the rules inside and out and using that to his advantage. And this is a time when Vrabel used it to his advantage and it was against the mastermind coach Belichick. So I learned that pretty incredible by him to do that. I learned about that little mastermind bullshit.

shit 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 20 grand like rable loves like that kind of shit we were sitting there and I'm I have no clue on how to gamble these horses and rames is over here and got his dip in I think he had a cigarette maybe a shot or two in him and he's fucking yeah he was smoking siggs with a dip in I'm not joking I think I love this guy now and uh we go and we go to the little thing where you have to put your shit in and i'm like raves what i do he's like don't worry edelman i got you you know he fucking puts him on there we hit like a three thing parlay or something he's just a smart guy he's a smart guy that like can beat you up what's the biggest thing in year

one that he has to emphasize in new england what do you think jules well he got to get some lineman he got to get some linemen it's a good point right there he got a 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 is going to be able to spend some money. 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. Who's he bringing in an O.C.? I would say Josh McDaniels. I would love to see 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 he's going through all that hiring process interviewing right now. I think that would be great. But Josh McDaniels would be the best fit. Because Josh, Josh ain't going anywhere. He ain't, he ain't. And he loves it there. I believe Josh is one of the best offensive coordinators in the league as well. I mean, he knows how to develop players. He developed, helped develop me. He developed you, developed me, Tom, 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, you need that. You need that you know with these young bucks these days i mean he made he made mac jones a pro bowler in his rookie year back and then he left and then ain't no pro bowler from there on out no there

hasn't been hasn't been i'll contribute all that to to most of that to mcdaniels mcdees mcdys i like that name i never heard that i don't know what about brayball he took ryan tany hell 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 seat in the playoffs and almost made the Super Bowl, you know, a couple 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 energy, you know, on the field in the meeting rooms to get the best out of players. And that's why I hear about variable. And that's why people love playing for him out of the guys that I know in Tennessee. I think he just feels safe when you're around him. I feel safe.

I feel like whenever he was, whenever we hang out, we've gone out and done things together. I just feel safe. He's just burly. 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'd know an escape route. Maybe take down like seven,

eight people himself and then get us like, he just feels safe with a guy like Rabel. He's the guy you want your daughter to marry. I don't know about that. Oh, all right. All right. Well, I like when you're saying you feel safer on him. You want your daughter to marry someone that?

She feels safe around, so you trick me there, Jules. Nah. Man, I'm excited for him. I'm sad for Mayo. This is like a, this is really like one of those things where it's like a divorce. This is, I can't, New England keeps on putting me in these goddamn divorces. I feel like a kid that's had like five divorced parents. What can you explain more?

Well, when Bill, Brady, that divorce. Yeah. Now, you know, Mayo freaking Braves, that divorce. There's like fucking hell of, because we're all like intertwined and it's kind of like incestual. 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 going to still be standing there. Make it tough. It does make you tough. It makes you tough. Man. That's why you're the toughest guy I know, Jules. Also, I'd be, I'd be crazy to say that, yeah, our last. game with Tom Brady Brable beat us

that's why Rable's back that's why he's back if he didn't win that game and I have his pleats over there if he didn't win that game he might not be back he might not be the head coach of the New England Patriots and maybe he wouldn't because maybe he he sent Tom Brady packing in his last game as a New England Patriot

that's probably his greatest that's probably what he said the first line in the interview did he say that no I'm just saying I would but hey Mr. Kraft who sent Tom packing I bet you he said that hire me hire me now

Braves has no filter where he probably would say shit like that he's the only player to have two touchdowns in a sack in a game offense and defense I mean his versatility Is there any other coach out there that you think could beat up

Rabel? I think a good fight would be Dan Campbell and him oh it's a good point but that's a good point I'm taking in Braves because Vraib's D.N. Campbell, he was a tight end.

Yeah. So what? What are you saying about tight ends, Jules? They're just not that tough. They're not as tough as D.S. I mean, you're one of one, bro. I agree with you. Tight ends ain't as tough as D.Ns.

And D.Ns are beastly, man. Dends are huge. You got to be fearless as a D. D. Miko Ryans, he could be in there. They all say McDermin is like a wrestler. It could be. Iowa rest. But I think Vrabs is a wrestler, too.

And Vrabs used to go against fucking Steve Neal all the time, which Steve Neal was world champion. So Vraibs already got a little in on that. So I think he's, I think Vrabs is taking, it's just weight, weight class on McDermott. And he may have the skill technique, but Vrable would swallow him. Oh, shit. What kind of dude is Mike Vrable?

I mean, he's stud. No doubt about it. His football IQ's up there, the pedigree. He's also a wizard. He does look like, like, like every position. He also has the best chin. He does. I mean, he's got the best chin in football other than like the coach coward.

That's being a stud. Having a nice chin's a stud. 1,000% 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. Yeah. I never seen beauty in the beast. Or is that one? So I don't know.

Gustav. You know. Gustav or something. Yeah. Never seen it. Freak. I mean, he had like man strength. That's what everyone always talked about.

His man strength. Dog, he's definitely a dog. No doubt. He could be a wiz. I was thinking whiz. I was going to go with whiz. I mean,

just how clutch he was in situations and just how knowledgeable he was in the defensive side of the ball. He's a dude's a dude's dude in 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 what I mean? That's positive because it makes you accountable.

So I wouldn't put him in the overall category of dudes do. I would go on three. What do you think? One. Let's go on three. One, two, three. Whiz! You hear that?

That's the sound of the group chat going off when your fantasy team scores another touchdown in the playoffs. I'm JJ Zacharyson. host of the Late Round Fantasy Football podcast. Every move matters this time of year. So tune in daily to help build a championship roster to beat your friends, your family, and that one co-worker who won't stop talking.

Literally. Listen to Late Round Fantasy Football on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everybody, Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move to Six, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies

To evaluate team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else. It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sundays. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up? It's Cam Jordan. I'm back with Season 3 of your favorite podcast. Be Off the Edge with Cam Jordan Podcasts. Tap in every Wednesday to hear conversations with my friends and stars from the NFL, the sports world in general, and entertainment about anything from teams and players making waves to pop culture. And I'll take you inside my journey through my 15th season in the NFL. Looking forward to you joining me this season, the season of more on the Off the Edge with Cam Joined podcast. Catch new episodes every Wednesday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Store more and do more with your data.

Try them for free at Wasabi. Com. Cats are masters at using up their nine lives, like chasing laser pointers into walls, or jumping onto high shelves. But the one thing cats never do, text while driving. So be like a cat and protect your one and only life. Don't text and drive. Don't drive distracted. A message brought to you by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Project Yellow Light, and the Ad Council.

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro. We were in the car, like a Rolling Stone came on, and he said, there's a line in there about your mother. And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't feel like I was being accepted is choose an identity that other people can't have. I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold on to what had happened. These are just a few of the moving and important stories on my 13th season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.