Even though Mike Vrabel spent eight seasons in New England as a player and appeared in 142 games for the Patriots, his arrival as head coach this offseason marked the beginning of a new era. There are multiple concrete signs of that ranging from scheme to postgame huddle (gone are the days of the “Aww yeah!”).
The latest item to add to that list is the notion of the “Hat and T-shirt Game.” Vrabel told reporters earlier this week, leading up to his team’s potentially division-clinching game against
the Buffalo Bills.
“I don’t use the hat and T-shirt,” he said on Monday. “We’re just trying to play for the championship that we have available this week, and I think it’s a great testament to our players that have put us in this position to be able to do that.”
Over the last two-plus decades, players had AFC East champion apparel waiting for them in the locker room following division-clinching victories. Vrabel himself was part of six such ceremonies during his time with the organization between 2001 and 2008, but has opted for a new approach this week.
His Patriots, of course, have a chance to lock up the AFC East on Sunday against the five-time reigning champion Bills. The victory would end a six-year title drought for the organization.
“That’s not going to be easy,” said Vrabel. “This is a very good football team. There’s a reason that they’ve won this division five years in a row. A lot of respect for them. They’re never out of it, never down, and they may be down, and just like last week, it’s a football team that understands that somebody’s going to make a play. And then the quarterback is going to give them a chance to the very end.”
