Patriots players got a surprise blue-collared gift from Mike Vrabel as they returned to work during a short week, with the coach pulling out all the stops to boost team morale.
In a creative move, Vrabel had blue shirts waiting at the players' lockers, complete with a collared design. The unusual gift was met with some confusion and amusement by the team, but it quickly became clear that the coach's intention was to bring some positivity to the locker room.
"I ain't going to lie, I remember they had asked us about them and I told them what I was going to put on mine," said defensive tackle Milton Williams. "When I came in [Monday] I saw that everybody had them. Me and [Robert Spillane] were talking about it like 'man, what's up with all these shirts?'"
It turned out that Vrabel had borrowed the idea from his previous stint as a consultant with the Browns last year. He even added his own twist to the design by opting for blue over brown.
"Yeah, I'm a gift giver," Vrabel said with a smile. "I like to give gifts... One thing I picked up — Bubba Ventrone did that in Cleveland and I thought that was a good looking shirt. I got one in brown last year. I thought it looked better in blue, so we got the guys some of those shirts."
While the gift may seem trivial at first glance, it's clear that Vrabel intended for it to have a more significant impact on the team. By sending out a small token of appreciation, he was able to boost morale and create a sense of camaraderie among his players.
As the Patriots prepare to face off against the Jets in a prime-time divisional game, there's little doubt that this small gesture will have a lasting effect. With seven consecutive wins on the line, Vrabel knows exactly how to get his team motivated – even if it means pulling out some unexpected surprises from his coach's closet.
In a creative move, Vrabel had blue shirts waiting at the players' lockers, complete with a collared design. The unusual gift was met with some confusion and amusement by the team, but it quickly became clear that the coach's intention was to bring some positivity to the locker room.
"I ain't going to lie, I remember they had asked us about them and I told them what I was going to put on mine," said defensive tackle Milton Williams. "When I came in [Monday] I saw that everybody had them. Me and [Robert Spillane] were talking about it like 'man, what's up with all these shirts?'"
It turned out that Vrabel had borrowed the idea from his previous stint as a consultant with the Browns last year. He even added his own twist to the design by opting for blue over brown.
"Yeah, I'm a gift giver," Vrabel said with a smile. "I like to give gifts... One thing I picked up — Bubba Ventrone did that in Cleveland and I thought that was a good looking shirt. I got one in brown last year. I thought it looked better in blue, so we got the guys some of those shirts."
While the gift may seem trivial at first glance, it's clear that Vrabel intended for it to have a more significant impact on the team. By sending out a small token of appreciation, he was able to boost morale and create a sense of camaraderie among his players.
As the Patriots prepare to face off against the Jets in a prime-time divisional game, there's little doubt that this small gesture will have a lasting effect. With seven consecutive wins on the line, Vrabel knows exactly how to get his team motivated – even if it means pulling out some unexpected surprises from his coach's closet.
You know what I think is really cool here? It's not just about the blue shirts themselves, but about the thought and effort Mike Vrabel put into boosting morale. He took a simple idea he liked from his past experience and ran with it (no pun intended!). It's those little touches that can make all the difference in a team's atmosphere. I mean, think about it, when you show your players that you're paying attention to the little things, it sends a message: they matter. And in a sport where mental toughness is just as important as physical strength, that kind of vibe can be super powerful. So yeah, it might seem like a small thing on the surface, but trust me, it's all about the details! 
I guess it's all about how you look at it. And, honestly, I'm a bit surprised he didn't just get them some actual gifts, like a new jersey or something 
. Still, I suppose it's better than nothin' 
.
Did u know that 75% of NFL players wear the same type of cleats every game season? 
And Vrabel pulled off an 85% boost in team morale with just a blue shirt 
! Stats show that players who receive small gifts from their coaches have a 43% increase in productivity, and 27% higher chances of winning. The Patriots are looking 
this season, especially with the addition of the surprise blue shirts 
. Btw, did u know the NFL average ticket price is up 22% this year? 
Can you believe Mike Vrabel pulled off a blue-collared surprise gift for the Patriots players? I mean, who needs fancy sports cars or million-dollar contracts when your coach gives out collared blue shirts? 
. It's awesome that Vrabel knows how to boost morale and create a sense of camaraderie among his team, especially when they need it most 
.
I'm lovin' Mike Vrabel's move, gotta say! Who wouldn't want a free blue collared shirt? It's the little things that count, right? 
! And it's hilarious how the players were all like "what's up with these shirts?" 
!
he knew just what to do to boost morale and bring the team together - who wouldn't want a free collared blue shirt? 
it shows he cares about the team & morale, n that little gesture can make a big difference 
i wanna get one 4 myself
, but it kinda worked lol! I mean who doesn't love a good surprise gift right? 
. And let's be real, it's not every day you see your coach rocking a blue shirt 
!
. It's the little things like this that can make your team more than just a group of athletes, it's a family 
.
It's actually kinda cool that Vrabel borrowed an idea from last year and put his own twist on it. The blue collared shirts look pretty sharp too 
what a sweet move by Mike Vrabel!!! I mean, come on who doesn't love blue collared shirts?! 
It's like he knows the guys are going through tough times but wants to liven things up in the locker room. And it's not just about the shirts themselves, it's the fact that he put thought into it and got creative 
. I love how Milton Williams was all confused at first but then saw everyone else rocking the same design 
. Now, if only this was an Olympic sport, I'd be totally invested in watching the Patriots gear up for that big game 
!
". And I love that he borrowed the idea from his Browns days – it shows he's paying attention to what works and adapting it to fit this team's vibe. This small gesture could actually make a big difference in those guys' minds