One former Ohio State football player stuck up for another, and the result was a bloodied cheek for New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel jumped into a pile of players during the Pats’ Aug. 6 practice against the Washington Commanders, and the former Ohio State defensive end came away worse for wear. Vrabel entered the scrum after former Buckeyes tailback and Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson made a block in blitz pickup, which led to tempers flaring.
Vrabel, who held an ice pack to his cheek after the brouhaha, became man of the hour among his players.
“That’s what we’re trying to build, and it starts with the head coach – intensity, bringing it every day, taking no crap when we’re out there on the field,” quarterback Drake Maye said. “The mentality, I like it. That’s what you want.”
Maye said Vrabel, 49, joked that the team will go back and review the film of the incident. No players were ejected from practice and the commotion ended quickly.
Receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas said Vrabel’s willingness to jump into the fray showed how much he had his players’ backs – and his sense of humor.
“I said, ‘Coach, what’s wrong with you?’ And he said, ‘You should have seen the other guy,'” Douglas relayed.
Vrabel, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, including eight at linebacker for the Patriots, holds the Ohio State record for career sacks (36) and tackles for loss (349). Henderson completed his four-year OSU career last season with 3,761 yards. New England selected him with the 38th pick of the second round of the April NFL draft.