AKRON, Ohio – After getting drubbed 41-0 by their archrival at home, Browns receiver Antonio Bryant reiterated his claim that nobody on the Pittsburgh Steelers could defend him one-on-one.
Who does this guy think he is, Mike Vrabel?
The New England Patriots linebacker caught two more touchdown passes Monday night in a 31-21 win over the New York Jets.
Vrabel has eight career receptions, all for touchdowns, all in goal-line situations. The only ones who lose track of Vrabel more often than red-zone defenders are Pro Bowl voters.
He leads the Patriots with 103 tackles. He is being mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady as a possible team most valuable player. He plays more roles than LeBron James in his latest Nike commercials.
Vrabel’s switch from outside linebacker to inside linebacker helped solidify a porous Patriots run defense, fueling its run to another division title.
None of this was compelling enough, however, to sway Pro Bowl selectors. Oh, well, Vrabel will have to make do with his three Super Bowl rings and de facto title as one of the NFL’s most underrated talents.
“Mike is a really good player,” said Browns coach Romeo Crennel, who served as Vrabel’s defensive coordinator in New England for the past four seasons.
“He is a versatile player, a smart player, a studious player, someone who works hard at the game.”
But Vrabel’s value seems to go underappreciated outside New England – until it comes playoff time and he’s making another big play. He is to the NFL what Robert Horry is to the NBA, only with fewer changes of address.
“Mike is enthusiastic, and he didn’t mind doing anything we needed: linebacker, tight end, special teams,” Browns guard and former Patriots teammate Joe Andruzzi said. “I know he played in Pittsburgh, but (Patriots coach) Bill Belichick saw an upside in Mike that really helped us.”
Never has Vrabel’s assistance been more evident.
The two-time defending champions were reeling at midseason due to injuries, defections and the retirement of inside linebacker Ted Johnson. They were ranked 27th against the run, keeping the Browns company in the low-rent district of the NFL statistics.
Tedy Bruschi’s dramatic return from a stroke merited every headline, but it was Belichick’s decision to move Vrabel to inside linebacker that stabilized the defense. The Patriots rank fourth against the rush heading into the regular-season finale and, despite an injury to Bruschi, are starting to resemble a legitimate contender again.
While Vrabel is enjoying his finest season, Pro Bowl voters tabbed Denver Broncos middle linebacker Al Wilson, who has 31 fewer tackles and 1.5 fewer sacks. You can always make a case for worthy exclusions, but in this instance Crennel volunteers a theory.
“(Vrabel) played half the season at inside linebacker and half on the outside,” Crennel said. “Some people might not have been sure where to put him (on the ballot).”
Think Crennel could find room for a player of Vrabel’s ilk?
The Browns have one of the league’s weakest linebacking corps. Despite the quality scheming of Crennel and Todd Grantham, they couldn’t stop the run if the phone line of the opposing coaches was tapped.
If Vrabel played in Cleveland he might be a local hero on a level only slightly subordinate to the incandescent James. Not that Vrabel would care.
He seems happy to play football for the most team-oriented franchise in pro sports; content to quote the Belichick party line like a Politburo member under Leonid Brezhnev.
Vrabel would never cite the following stat, but his three touchdown receptions this season would tie him for the Browns’ team lead with, among others, the indefensible Mr. Bryant.
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