Vrabel: “I’m Excited To Be Here”

From the Truman Sports Complex

Mike Vrabel made it plain he wasn’t missing from the off-season work around the Chiefs because he was unhappy to be in Kansas City.

“I’m excited to be here,” Vrabel said after the team’s first practice of mini-camp on Friday morning. “It’s another opportunity to keep playing. If it wasn’t going to be in New England, I’m glad that it’s here.

“It’s good to finally get here, just get  out there with the guys … I’m happy as heck to be here right now.”

As to why he has not attended any of the off-season work to date, Vrabel fell back on the collective bargaining agreement between owners and playerse as his reason.

“Normally in New England in the past I have been there for mini-camps, I haven’t been there year round,” Vrabel said. “I think for lack of a better term, I’m just trying to excercise my rights in the CBA.  We bargained for rights to make these workouts voluntary.

“And that’s all I was trying to do, excercise my rights under the CBA.”

Note that Vrabel is a member of the NFL Players Association executive committee and was part of the selection committee for the union’s new executive director DeMaurice Smith.

As to whether he will serve as a leader for this team due to his experience and time spent with a winning program in New England, Vrabel said that would be up to others to decide.

“The thing you have to be careful of is when you start to label guys as leaders,” Vrabel said. “Natural leaders will develop within this team.  Guys will look to certain guys.  You don’t have to be a captain on a football team, or any team to be a leader.”


14 Responses to “Vrabel: “I’m Excited To Be Here””

  • June 5, 2009  - JBChiefs says:

    Excelent. We are excited to have you on the field Mike Vrabel. Welcome to KC and Chiefdom.


  • June 5, 2009  - colby says:

    Not that he’s an all pro or anything, but it’s nice to know for sure now that Vrabel is on board and ready go! He may only be a 60-70 tackle, 4-5 sack guy at this point in his career, but his insight and experience will be invaluable on this team. Plus, he might be able to teach Cottam a thing or two about catching TDs and blocking on the goal line. I maintain, a nice pickup by the Chiefs, but I still wish he’d come to a few non-mandatory things, but it’s a moot point now.


  • June 5, 2009  - Scott says:

    colby says:
    “He may only be a 60-70 tackle, 4-5 sack guy at this point in his career…”

    Sad thing is, that would have pretty much led the team last year. Damn close, anyway.


  • June 5, 2009  - aPauled says:

    Obligatory Response: “We are all very excited to have Mike here.”

    While we are complaining about posts, why don’t we add:

    “If you don’t have anything to say, don’t say it”.

    Some people apparently like to see there name on every post, so they parrot the theme of BG’s article. Why?

    I for one, either skip or quickly scan the Responses. There are only about a handful of people that actually have an original thought or additional information on the subject. Yet there are 20 responses, either attacking another poster, saying nothing or saying nothing inth the stupith wayth. No need to post these here guys and gals.


  • June 5, 2009  - kcchiefsfansteve says:

    mike glad to have you in kc!

    hey aPauled… what did you add to the responses?
    lol
    just kidding.

    i will really be interested to see how the other LBs match up to vrabel…
    especially the ones moving from DE or the ones not really used last year because of the Cover 2…

    steve


  • June 5, 2009  - Steve says:

    Sorry, aPauled,
    Your post sounds like what you don’t like to hear from others. If you don’t like what they say, don’t read them.


  • June 5, 2009  - Rip 'em a new one says:

    Vrabel and Zack Thomas will naturally lead by example. Something the Chiefs from the past few seasons have had very little in the way of examples, to see.

    Well, Tony G did alot of this on the other side of the ball, to be fair. The defense? They were figuring it out as they went…..right down the tubes.


  • June 5, 2009  - aPauled says:

    >> “Your post sounds like what you don’t like to hear from others. If you don’t like what they say, don’t read them.”

    Exhibit 2.


  • June 5, 2009  - anonymous says:

    LMAO

    Haley said that the team has lost 348 pounds since OTA’s started!

    That’s the equivalent of firing 2 more Herms LOL


  • June 5, 2009  - alex k says:

    cant wait to see this defense, the big issues (pass rush) and (slot or speed recievers) (run D) have all been worked on, only pass rush needs some work, but the amount of potential break out sack guys makes it less daunting…

    Going with Donald Washington makes more sense to me as I watch more tape from last year, we really had an issue with 3rd recievers, and I dont put it on Leggett but we had some injuries, such a nice depth addition with a high ceiling.


  • June 5, 2009  - Gump says:

    aPauled and Steve,

    I’ve been saying the same thing to both sides of this argument for over a year now. I come her for Bob’s takes. I read through most of the responses and feel a kinship to many of the regulars. Over the last year-plus I’ve developed a since of the readers that I feel have legitemite thoughts(strictly my own opinion), so I spend time reading what they have to say also. As for the one’s I skip over, they may be good people but it’s my time so I’ll spend it as I see fit.


  • June 5, 2009  - anonymous says:

    Little disappointed that the Author didn’t give us a little more detail. Like who shined and who stunk the joint up, did Dorsey practice, just a few minor details, instead of just knocking the high spots off.


  • June 5, 2009  - Scott says:

    anonymous,

    The practice update has been updated from earlier…although it’s not been moved back to the top of the page.


  • June 6, 2009  - Rin Tin Tin says:

    Hmm…where have we heard those words before - or least something similar nee along those lines.

    Exhibit 1 -

    Brian Waters said “I’m happy to be here”…and Mike Vrabel “I’m excited to be here.”

    Exhibit 2 -

    Herm Edwards said “I expect to be back”…Clark Hunt said “I hope Herm comes back.”

    Then too, musn’t forget nee overlook Exhibit 3 -

    ‘check’ said “I can get any 22 guys off the street…blah blah blah blah blah blah”

    ’search’ said “the coach is the voice of the organization…etc. etc.”
    ___________________________________

    * Diagnosis; The Chiefs have a sore throat…

    * Prognosis: Terminal

    “Home, home on the range, where the Chiefs and the management play (head games)…”


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