Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Preparing to Face Another Former Team
It's beginning to look like the 2025 schedule for the New England Patriots is a checklist for Mike Vrabel. The head coach entered the year set to face off against a team he spent time with as a player (Pittsburgh Steelers) and as a head coach (Tennessee Titans).
But after Vrabel was let go by Tennessee after the 2023 season, he quietly joined the Cleveland Browns staff as a senior coaching consultant. Ahead of what will be his third revenge game of the season, Vrabel took the time to speak to reporters about what that lone year in Ohio meant to him.
"Well, I enjoyed that time. I enjoyed the people there," Vrabel said just one day after beating the Titans to the tune of 31-13. "That organization. I enjoyed working with Kevin (Stefanski), the offensive staff, Tommy Rees and Chad (O'Shea). I played with Bubba (Ventrone). So, a lot of good young coaches. Jim Schwartz – I had a really good relationship with Schwartzy. They're playing really well. They're coming off a huge win. They're a great defense, offense is physical, physical O-line. Running backs are doing a nice job. So, we're going to get prepared as soon as we shut the door here with the Titans and moving on to the Browns."
Two Browns Coaches Will Return To Foxboro To Face Their Old Team
It won't just be a reunion for Vrabel. Two coaches that he name dropped -- wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone -- also spent prolonged periods of time in New England. O'Shea was with the Patriots 2009 to 2018, winning three Super Bowl rings in the process. Ventrone was a player for the Patriots, suiting up in two separate stints before returning to be an assistant special teams coach for three seasons.
As for Vrabel, though he was on the staff, he didn't try and interfere with what the Browns were doing on a daily basis. He just helped provide a lending hand and ear.
"I didn't try to get involved in the day-to-day operations," Vrabel said. "I was trying to help the players. I was trying to help the young coaches. That wasn't something that I got involved with. I tried to help with player development. But they have a great organization as far as the structure and everything. But I tried to be involved with the young coaches and with the young players, and help them in practice and help them develop."
Do The Browns Utilize Analytics In Their Game Plans?
Cleveland also uses analytical scouting before games, something that Vrabel had some experience with. He also mentioned how the Patriots are working to boost their department to the levels that the Browns are at right now.
"That's certainly something that they believe strongly in," he said. "We were getting involved with it in Tennessee, probably not to the extent that Cleveland has. We've added, and I feel like we all do. That can help us on a coaching level, and also help us as we look at personnel. So, we'll continue to try to enhance that department, that area and how they can help us looking at what we do internally, but also externally as we look at players and acquiring players. But probably won't get to that extent of where they're at right now overnight."
So as the Browns currently wait on the docket, the Mike Vrabel Revenge Tour is sitting at 1-1. An earlier loss to Pittsburgh was quickly avenged by the team's victory in Nashville in Week 7. Now the Browns have a chance to break the tie.
Bills Predicted to Pull Off ‘A Little Magic’ By Trading $24 Million WR
The Buffalo Bills signed veteran wide receiver Curtis Samuel last year with the hopes of adding some speed and versatility to the offense, but he has struggled with injuries and made only a limited impact on the field.
Samuel could now face a roster crunch, with one insider suggesting he could become trade bait before the end of the summer. Reporter Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News suggested that the Bills will ship Samuel to a new home rather than cut him, paving the way for a longtime practice squad receiver to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Bills Need to Pull Off ‘Magic’ With Curtis Samuel
Skurski suggested that the Bills could stick with Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman at the top of the depth chart, adding veteran receivers Elijah Moore and Joshua Palmer below them on the depth chart. The final spots on the roster go to veteran Lavishka Shenault and preseason standout Tyrell Shavers.
Skurski predicted that the Bills would cut Samuel, though they may need some help in getting the deal finished.
“We’re counting on general manager Brandon Beane to work a little magic here by trading Samuel,” Skurski wrote. “There doesn’t figure to be a robust market for a wide receiver coming off a down season who hasn’t been able to practice much this summer, so perhaps Beane will have to attach a draft-pick sweetener – think something like Samuel and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick – but freeing up $7.34 million against the cap would be worth it.”
Skurski noted that Samuel has been dealing with injuries through training camp and the first two preseason games and has been surpassed on the depth chart.
“The team should do anything it can to move him,” Skurski wrote. “Shavers and Shenault make the roster for now based on their ability to play special teams, which is a factor for any receiver near the bottom of the depth chart. Shenault is the primary returner in this projection.”
Samuel had a limited impact last season, making just 31 receptions for 253 yards and one touchdown.
Tyrell Shavers Continues to Shine
The Bills could feel more comfortable in moving Samuel thanks to the fast rise of Shavers, who spent most of the last season on the practice squad. He did shine in limited action, catching his only target of the season and racing 69 yards for a touchdown in a blowout Week 17 win over the New York Jets.
Shavers was one of the few bright points in the team’s 38-0 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, with The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia writing that he had the best night of anyone on the team.
“This time last year, in the second preseason game, Shavers went from having a strong camp and pushing to make the roster to having a disappointing showing in the contest to lose ground in the roster race,” Buscaglia wrote. “This year, the opposite is true, as Shavers has put together his best case to make the team since joining the Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2023.”
Shavers also made some strong plays on special teams, which could add to his value to the final roster.
