Bedard: Done deal; Vrabel is new head coach of the Patriots

It's official. Source confirms Mike Vrabel has agreed to be the next head coach of the Patriots. — Giardi.

Had a feeling it was coming this morning. Now the Krafts get a bounce from the pregame shows.

The Patriots announced Vrabel will be introduced on Monday at Noon.

I think it's a terrific hire and has been fait accompli for a while. The Krafts were not going to fire a rookie head coach only to hire another in, say, a Ben Johnson. They were going with a known commodity, and that is absolutely Vrabel. As much fun as it is to dream about getting the next Sean McVay, you could also get the next Adam Gase. The Krafts were not going to take that chance again.

What are the Patriots getting in Vrabel? Giardi had a good piece with former Titans center Ben Jones earlier in the week.

But basically, they are getting a clear identity and vision for his program, an elite game manager and somewhat of a player's coach — but one who doesn't put up with dumb stuff and error-repeaters.

Here's some of what Vrabel said when he was hired as Titans coach:

Vision: "We talk about the right 53, not the best 53. So when you talk about a vision, we want a big, fast, strong, smart football team that's disciplined. When you talk about disciplined, not jumping off sides late in the game. When you're disciplined you're able to take advantage of other teams' mistakes. We won't make critical mistakes. We're going to do everything we can not to make critical mistakes. We're going to try and be as disciplined as a football team as we possibly can."

Leadership style: "I don't think that I have to go ahead and do anything special. When I stand in front of these guys on April 2 and they look at their head coach, I will have been every single one of those players in those seats. I've been the rookie that got drafted that was having a tough time, that maybe wasn't developing as fast as the coaches would've liked. I will have been a core special teams player. I will have been a starting linebacker that was expected to make some plays because he was a high-priced player. I will have been the aging veteran that needed to be a great leader, or I'll have been a team captain. I'll have a great opportunity to share my story and what I've been through with each one of those players. I'm not going to do anything special, I'm just going to tell them who I am and say, 'Where are you at in your career? This is what we need to do to make you better. Here's what I see. This is what you do well. This is what you don't do well. And we're going to work together to fix whatever you don't do well.'"

Vrabel: "I think that we're going to run the football. We're going to run it from the quarterback being under center, we're going to run it from the quarterback being in gun. We're going to give Marcus (Mariota) some easy access throws, whether that be RPOs or run reliefs. We're not going to run it into eight or nine guys, we're not going to be silly. I believe in screens, I believe in play action, things that he does well. We were scared to death, again, when we do the stats and we run the statistics, he's averaging 17 or 18 yards a completion in play action. Those things scare you as a defensive coordinator, those are big plays that change field position. Those are things that we believe in, but we're going to run the football and we're going to do it from different ways, different backfield alignments."

On quarterbacks: "The vision is that we're going to do things that are going to help him. We're going to get guys around him that are going to help him. We're going to get him to play with confidence, we're going to get him to play energetic and bring the passion of football out that he's so capable of showing. That's my idea for him. There's not going to be a greater relationship that I need to foster and develop than the one with our starting quarterback."

Coaching staff: "They're going to be great teachers, they're going to have passion and energy for football, for making players better. I believe that players are more important than plays, and it's always going to be about that. It's never going to be about the scheme. Another thing I told Amy (Adams Strunk), my job is to make sure that the players know what to do and that they play fast and aggressive. If they go into games and we're not sure of things then it's my job as a head coach to take them out and say, 'they don't know it, they can't play fast and aggressive.' That situation, fourth down, yesterday and somebody's got to make a play, I'm pretty sure that Stephon Gilmore knew what to do and he played fast and aggressive and he was able to make the play to win the game and put his team in the Super Bowl."

Obviously who Vrabel hires for his staff is the next shoe to drop. His staffing at the Titans was a little underwhelming - he basically inherited his first two OCs, Mike LaFleur and Arthur Smith.

I think a huge bonus getting Vrabel the second time is he spent the year learning more tricks for his bag working with the tight ends and offensive line, as well as the Browns' analytics department.

_______________________

Short-yardage plays while I wait for the day when the Patriots actually threaten to play this weekend, and hoping this won't be obsolete by Sunday morning ... 

 - All the reports from the last day, and my own knowledge of the situation, point toward Mike Vrabel and the Patriots coming to an agreement by Monday on him becoming the next head coach. There are no more interviews for either side on the books at the moment, and they are involved in contract negotiations at this point. That's certainly not a given, but it looks promising.

 - If we hear that Vrabel is scheduling an interview with another team, say Tom Brady and the Raiders, then things are not going well and Vrabel is looking to pressure Robert Kraft.

 - This list of the NFL's highest-paid coaches has Andy Reid at the top at $20 million. Sean McVay is fifth at $15 million. Mike MacDonald is 10th at $9 million. Vrabel should slot someplace between McVay and Dan Campbell/Sean McDermott at $11 million. This really shouldn't be that hard.

 - As for what Vrabel will do at the coordinator positions, my understanding is that he's going to be patient and go through a process. A process is mandated by league rules - for all three coordinators and QB coach - but doesn't preclude a coach from having a preferred staff and working towards that (like the Krafts with Vrabel). NFL rules on the subject:

Clubs must interview at least two minorities and/or women for all coordinator positions.

Clubs must interview a least one diverse candidate for the QB coach position or any senior level executive position at the club.

 - I would not list Josh McDaniels as a favorite, although it makes a lot of sense. I do think Vrabel would go through a legit process, and McDaniels has other interest around the league (he has a relationship with Ben Johnson, should he land somewhere). Other OC interviews to this point: Seattle - Thomas Brown (interim Bears OC/HC), Hank Fraley, Lions OL; Browns  - Tommy Rees (Browns pass game), Charles London (Seahawks QB coach). Hard to say who else would be a good candidate before we get through all the firings. 

I would also look at Klint Kubiak (Saints OC), Nick Caley (Rams TEs/pass game), Brian Fleury (49ers TEs), Dave Ragone (Rams QBs), Jake Peetz (Seahawks pass game), Marcus Brady (Chargers pass game), Josh McCown (Vikings QBs).

If I were in charge, I would put a premium on an OC who is also an expert on developing quarterbacks. Actually, it would be a must. That's why McDaniels is my preferred candidate. I know exactly what I'm going to get, he frees up Vrabel to do all his HC wizard stuff and help the defense. The work he did with Matt Cassel, Cam Newton, Mac Jones and Jimmy Garoppolo is all the evidence you should need. I would love to see McDaniels, who has spent this year off traveling around and consulting to learn new tricks, bring on a creative QB assistant - someone with knowledge of the Chiefs, Rams or Vikings - to help him expand what he does. Like Andy Reid did when he got to Kansas City.

Rees, Brown, Fraley, former Vrabel Titans coordinator Todd Downing (not good) have no NFL QB coaching experience, Caley, Fleury and Peetz have no NFL QB experience. Would be a non-starter for me. 

Kubiak (if the Saints let him depart) and McDaniels have the strongest resumes. Kubiak is the type who could leave quickly. Vrabel ran into big-time issues with that in Tennessee. He should put QB teaching and stability at the top of his wish list.

 - Once Vrabel is brought on board, I expect the personnel chief to be an evolving process. I would not be surprised if Eliot Wolf and his staff get this offseason to prove themselves. If Vrabel wants someone different at some point, like Ryan Cowden or Mike Borgonzi, I'm sure the Krafts would listen and be OK with that.

I could definitely see Wolf staying on for a while even if someone else is brought in. As long as he's listed on the masthead as Executive Vice President of Player Personnel, he would still be considered the defacto personnel chief and not subject the Patriots to NFL search rules. But it could complicate bringing on Borgonzi, who is the Chiefs' assistant general manager. A position with the Patriots under Wolf would be considered a lateral move and the Chiefs could block.

 - This was interesting:

I'm waiting for the eventual Mayo sitdown with Tom Curran on NBC Sports Boston. No, I don't expect him to say much.

 - The most ridiculous thing I've heard since the firings came courtesy of Albert Breer on Toucher & Hardy. He stated the coaches referenced the toxic media in Boston, and that they expected to be given three years.

I mean, holy cow, how soft can you be -- and we wondered why the 2024 Patriots were soft?! Whining about the media, thinking that you had three years to right this ship ... talk about entitlement. This is the crap I expect out of millennials. Were they asked to work too hard also?

How about this: do your freaking job and coach up what you were given, and operate like tomorrow is not promised. Were the coaches pacing themselves?!

Sorry, those guys deserved to be fired if this was the mentality inside that building.

 - NFL playoff predictions for this weekend (made at 3 p.m. Saturday, I swear):

Chargers -3 at Texans

Houston has no shot without Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs ... Chargers 23, Texans 13

Steelers at Ravens -8.5

Pittsburgh has been going down the tubes for a while but I expect it to be a pain. ... Ravens 23, Steelers 17.

Broncos at Bills -8.5

I expect Denver to come out hot, Sean Payton to pull out a few plays, but Josh Allen goes scorched earth. ... Bills 30, Broncos 20.

Packers at Eagles -4.5

I'm extremely worried about Jordan Love's injury situation and hasn't played great even when healthy. ... Eagles 35, Packers 17

Commanders at Bucs -3

My favorite game of the weekend with two baller QBs/OCs and stingy defensive head coaches. ... Bucs 27, Commanders 24

Vikings -2.5 at Rams

I do not think the Rams can make Sam Darnold have happy feet like he did against the Lions. ... Vikings 27, Rams 20

 - My playoff prediction ...

First, my preseason prediction (woof on the Jets, Cowboys):

Current prediction:

This would actually be Giardi's preseason Super Bowl ... the bastard.