Mike Vrabel Would Return to Patriots in a “Heartbeat”

A little over a month ago, I speculated that former Patriots and free agent to be linebacker Mike Vrabel could make a return to the Patriots. Now, according to Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald, Vrabel would easily accept a return to the team he helped win three Super Bowls:

Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, a union player rep, has been in town at the NFL Scouting Combine taking part in meetings. Vrabel stopped for a chat with the Herald while he was in between sessions.Among the topics discussed was his pending free agency.  While Vrabel said his first choice would be to return to the Kansas City Chiefs, he was open to other possibilities, including a return to New England, where he was part of three Super Bowl championships.

”I’d go back in a heartbeat. Why wouldn’t I?” Vrabel said in between sips of coffee. ”Put it this way, I’d go back, but I highly doubt they’d want me back.”

Vrabel was included in the trade which sent quarterback Matt Cassel to Kansas City in exchange for a second-round draft pick. The Pats definitely missed his pass-rushing presence on the edge. While it appears he was traded for monetary reasons – Bill Belichick needed to make cap space to sign some players — Vrabel claimed he was never told a reason. 

”I’m not too proud to say I’d go back there. But I still would,” he said. ”That’s Bill’s deal. Bill decides and makes those decisions and makes those calls. You’ll have to ask him. He didn’t give me a reason (why he traded me).”

So should the Patriots consider bringing Vrabel back?

I really think they should.  While I don’t think the Patriots should be making a run at a bunch of older players, having a guy like Vrabel around would certainly help in the leadership department with Junior Seau retiring.  Vrabel can still play on the edge, and can still get to the quarterback. However, his main asset would be his ability to set the edge against the run, something the Patriots’ outside linebackers couldn’t do very effectively this season.  Vrabel could also play insider linebacker on running downs, playing on the strong side and eating up blocks, allowing Jerod Mayo to maximize his potential as a weak inside linebacker.  Vrabel could also still come in on offense in goal line packages.

While I think it is still unlikely that the Patriots will bring Vrabel back, there is no question that Vrabel has certain skills and intangibles that the Patriots could certainly use.