Vrabel Speaks
The speakerphone was fired up again at the Chiefs as LB Mike Vrabel spoke to the Kansas City media on Friday.
Courtesy of the Chiefs, here are the highlights of what he had to say.
What position will you play here in Kansas City?
“I would imagine linebacker since that is where I played and hopefully I can help, if there is a need, in a goal line situation on offense. I have done that in the past. Certainly if I had to pick and (TE) Tony Gonzalez was down there and I was down there, I’d probably cover Tony Gonzalez before me so maybe I could open up some possibilities, I don’t know. He draws plenty of attention; he always has when the Patriots played him.”
Are you more comfortable inside or outside?
“When I first moved inside, for whatever reason in New England, there was a certain transition period but after two years of playing in there I was pretty comfortable. I can play either one of the spots depending on what we need. I don’t know what the coaches plans are, what their thoughts are, what they want to do with the personnel that we have from last year and the guys that will be coming in.”
Will be a 4-3 or 3-4 defense?
“Everything that I know, I think that there is going to be a lot of flexibility there. If you look at the staff that is coaching the defense, it is a staff that has a lot of history in the 3-4 and also the 4-3. I think what any coach would want to do is try and get the best 11 guys out there whether you are kicking off, playing offense or playing defense. However we can get the best 11 guys out there I imagine that is the type of defense we are going to play.”
What do you know about the Chiefs?
“I know it is a young team. I know that it is a team that played in a lot of close ball games so I think that is promising to play in that many close games. Hopefully with that type of experience, we will be able to win those close games. The NFL comes down to those tight games. If you look, I think they lost seven games by less than a touchdown and those are close games that can be won. I met Tony Gonzalez at the Pro Bowl and Brian Waters is a player representative that I have known and got to meet at our meetings and obviously Matt Cassel. I will probably be familiar with some other players. I have a lot of respect for Derrick Johnson watching him play, he has a lot of talent and ability and I certainly like the way that he plays. I don’t know him but I admire him. We are all football players and I think everybody is going to have a lot of the same qualities and characteristics to make it to this point in their career.”
Will you make it a point to speak with Gonzalez and Waters to convince them to stay in Kansas City?
“No, I am not familiar with their personal situations. This goes on every year. Guys are happy, guys are unhappy, I don’t know. The thing that we have always done in the past, whether it be with me or Teddy Bruschi, you get those things handled and when you report to camp and it is time to practice, all the contracts and other situations are kind of put aside and it is time to play. Everybody is on the same field and everybody is in that same locker room so whatever their personal situations are they will have to deal with them.”
Do you think Matt Cassel is a franchise type quarterback?
“Just from my observations Matt got better every snap that he took last year. He gained confidence and not only did he play better but he also became a better leader. The guys would gather around him and the guys would trust in him and know that we had a chance with Matt quarterbacking our football team.”
What are your memories of playing at Arrowhead Stadium?
“That was the first thing I told (Todd Haley), if we can get this thing back to where this is a tough place to play and we win all of our games at home or damn near all of them, we can be successful. I remember every year it seemed like we played on Monday night and it was a tough place to play, it was loud, and you had to play extra-ordinary good to win. Hopefully we can get back to that and give the fans something to cheer about. When the product out there isn’t good, there is nothing really to cheer about.”
What is the definition of “The Patriot Way”?
“I think it is about making football important. Loving to play football is about being prepared, being accountable and consistent. I think to be consistent at least your teammates and your coaches know what to expect out of you every week and it is not something that is great one week and then crappy the next. It is putting effort in and getting consistent production from the players.”
“And now, in stunning HD fidelity and clarity, we bring you another KC Chiefs special player introdution in optimum SPEAKERphone-speak!”
What is the deal here? Anyone with a clue as to this anticeptic PR ploy? Very curious by the person who is making these decisions.
Where is the Haters all 2 of them. What no comments on this article ? This is the reason Vrabel was brought in here he knows what it takes to win. CP hows the job search going.
Now this guy Vrabel Mr. Anon can respect based on his apparent ‘integrity’ of expression- there was no hype, no pie in the sky – just straight talk & shootin’…like me.
Q: “Do you think Matt Cassel is a franchise type quarterback?”
Vrabel: “Just from my observations Matt got better every snap that he took last year. He gained confidence and not only did he play better but he also became a better leader. The guys would gather around him and the guys would trust in him and know that we had a chance with Matt quarterbacking our football team.”
- no ‘franchise QB is he’ proclamation, no he was a steal for a #2 choice. Just a stated honesty… suggesting Cassel has the potential to grow – not unlike Thigpen. The QB battle won’t be determined until Game 1 of the regular season, and if it is done afore in favor either guy- shy injury – said will be overt favoritism…we shall see.
Q: “What are your memories of playing at Arrowhead Stadium?”
Vrabel: “if we can get this thing back to where this is a tough place to play and we win all of our games at home or damn near all of them, we can be successful” -AND- “it was a tough place to play, it was loud, and you had to play extra-ordinary good to win.”
- emphasis on ‘we’ at the start even tho Vrabel be – as both Hailey & Piolee – nascent Chiefs, and ‘you’ near the end, distinguishing what he once was (a Patriot) & what he now is (a Chief.)
Quite the lack of overt ego…I certainly can’t understand that (: ) nor do Todd and Scottie by way typical utterance theirs- again, more so in the case the former gent.
Vrabel continues: “Hopefully we can get back to that and give the fans something to cheer about.”
- again, ‘we’. I note Hailey -between verifying hall passes- referred to the Chiefs as ‘they’ on most every occasion regards our team ‘prior’ to his hiring…this a distinction from Vrabel; we and Mrs. Lubner have our eyes on you Todd.
Scottie, true to his word is, outside a couple of reported cameos, allowing Hailey to be that face of the team, & is in lieu of talking letting his GM actions do the talking for him via ‘these’ KC Chiefs (signing the Jones & Robertsons et al.)
Excitement’s growin’…huh.
Whenever I read a post from anonymous, I feel like a teacher looking at a special-ed paper.
I just wasted two min. of my life reading that post from anonymous
LMAO chiefwurm….. Or seeing someone passed out, laying in a pool of piss after a long night of drinking. You feel dirty if you get too close.
Or read too far…
To answer a question, I think the loud speaker is to show that no one is bigger than the franchise at this point. They dont want to give a photo OP, none of that, realize this interview didnt make ESPN.com, or NFL Network, had there been a photo OP, and yeah, it wouldve been.
KC is operating off the radar now, thats how they seem to like it, and from what Ive seen from Haley, its a good thing, hes definitely not a guy who needs to spend a lot of time in front of a mic….yeah he answers questions, but the min possible.
Some felt Vrabel came off as angry, I think you just get tired of questions like “so you will be playing linebacker?”…its a pretty obvious answer for a guy who is a linebacker, PERIOD, there is no position name for situational goal line extra man on line.
big deal if it was on a speaker phone the guys probably at his house doin the interview is scoobe doo underwear i wish i could just call in to work in my underwear thatd be awsome
Sounds like a “pro”, to me.
Did he “come off as angry”? It’s still early. How would YOU feel if you were traded to a 2-14 team, after playing for a really good team for most of your career? And it’s probably your last stop, to boot?
Anonymous Tin Tin…*Yawn*. You used to bring a small amount of intelligence to your ramblings. Now? I’ve found myself skipping most everything you write. Since you ran off with your “Herm’s the man” tail between your legs…you’ve come back with nothing more than Pioli/Hailey-bashing drivel. This is the way it is now…GTF over it. Add to the conversation in an intelligent way…or just GO away.
Why do you guys care so much about what anonymous has to say. Maybe I should follow you guys around on this site and after everything you say, say that it’s a worthless post and you should just go away. So what is he thought herm was the man. Devil dog puts up the right 53 every post and you don’t get on him about that.
All I’m saying is grow up. This is just commentary and if you don’t like it deal with it. This is turning into the espn commentary where people just fight with each other and don’t have anything meaningful to say about the topic.
Why do you guys care so much about what anonymous has to say. Maybe I should follow you guys around on this site and after everything you say, say that it’s a worthless post and you should just go away. So what is he thought herm was the man. Devil dog puts up the right 53 every post and you don’t get on him about that.
All I’m saying is grow up. This is just commentary and if you don’t like it deal with it. This is turning into the espn commentary where people just fight with each other and don’t have anything meaningful to say about the topic.
I think it has gone a bit wild with it, but he has been extreme…
More than anything, I think we all appreciate Bob for putting up these updates…
During training camp, Bob is like..God for Chief Fans.
JG, words to live by as you suggest, not once but twice. Forgive them, for their green eyes get in the way seeing the light of common sense.
anonymous be ‘the straw that stirs the drink’…
and
do you know what? He has been placed on this ‘pedestal’ created via others by. . .others. anonymous speaks and people listen – the EF Hutton of football blog industry.
EF left, anonymous right i.e., still here, and voraciously and rapaciously centered e’ermore.
My yoke is easy my opines strong, deal with ‘em deal with ‘em for I’ll be sharing here from now one (no burden mine, be it JJ or other.)
Anon tin tin…
Devildog is one word…… usually I skip reading the childish dribble that you post but I saw my name and have to respond. So get over it.
I BELEIVE !!!
The new way…. THE CHIEFS WAY !!!
THE RIGHT 53 2009