Vrabel Calls Media 'Ridiculous' After 24-19 Win

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel clashed with radio hosts on Monday morning, calling the media's focus on individual mistakes 'ridiculous' after his team's 24-19 win over the Dolphins. The victory came after New England rallied from a 13-3 halftime deficit in Miami. Vrabel appeared on WEEI's 'The Greg Hill Show' to discuss the game, his roster, and the team's upcoming schedule.

The friction began when Vrabel addressed the status of wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown was ruled out of Sunday's game due to a knee injury and had also dealt with an ankle issue earlier in the week. When hosts pressed for details, Vrabel offered a brief answer. 'We'll see where A.J.'s availability is this week,' he said. He repeated that exact sentence when asked a follow-up question about a potential high ankle sprain.

Vrabel's patience wore thin when the conversation shifted to running back Rhamondre Stevenson. He interrupted a question with a sarcastic remark: 'We should bench him. We should get rid of him.' Clarifying that he was speaking generally about players who make one bad play, Vrabel added, 'All the guys, everybody that has one bad play. We should fire them.'

Later in the segment, Vrabel returned to the topic while discussing wide receiver Efton Chism III. He drew a comparison to quarterback Drake Maye. 'Imagine if we would've benched Drake Maye after he threw a couple of interceptions? I mean that's what you guys sound like sometimes,' Vrabel said. 'It's ridiculous.' When asked if the hosts should change their questioning style, Vrabel said they should continue what they were doing because it seemed to be working.

The coach did find time to praise Stevenson, who led the team with 82 rushing yards on 19 carries and added three catches for eight yards. Vrabel highlighted Stevenson's versatility, noting his effectiveness in pass protection and ball security. 'He certainly does a lot for us. He's a versatile running back,' Vrabel said. He credited Stevenson's growth as a leader in the backfield and on the offense, citing his improved technique and effort after contact.

Vrabel also addressed officiating controversies from Sunday. He mocked an unnecessary roughing penalty called on linebacker Christian Elliss. 'He hit him too hard I think,' Vrabel joked. 'The referee said it was unnecessary, to which I said I'm not sure what's unnecessary.' He also joked about a review that initially ruled a Kyle Williams catch in the end zone as a fumble before reversing it to a touchdown. 'I said that was a great call too,' Vrabel said, mimicking a long toss of the challenge flag.

The Patriots return from a longer layoff following a Thursday night loss to the Bears on Oct. 22. The team avoided a road defeat against the last-place Dolphins, a scenario that has plagued them in previous seasons. Vrabel credited the win to a mix of scheme adjustments and improved execution. 'It's probably a little bit of both,' he said. 'I mean we try to do things throughout the game, trying to make adjustments, plays that we maybe need to call again for whatever reason.'

Vrabel discussed the injury report, noting that Mack Hollins and Reggie Gilliam may practice this week. He said medical staff are working to determine when players are ready to return. He also defended kicker Andy Borregales, expressing confidence in his timing and approach. 'I've got a lot of confidence in Andy,' Vrabel said. 'I thought he did a really nice job on the kickoff with the ball placement.'

With the NFL trade deadline set for Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m., Vrabel kept his remarks on potential roster moves vague. Citing a shortage of cap space, the coach said the team would try to do what it could to improve. 'I think this time of year, everybody talks,' Vrabel said. 'I'm sure there are lots of conversations with all the teams and the personnel people.'