Image courtesy of the New England Patriots 

FOXBOROUGH – In the far right corner of the Sports Illustrated Pavilion where Mike Vrabel was introduced as the Patriots’ 16th head coach on Monday, there was a backdrop set up for stand up interviews that ultimately turned into a bit of ‘legends corner.’

Andre Tippett and Troy Brown gathered with reporters both formally and informally to speak about Vrabel. While Tippett’s words are always wise, on this day, Brown’s perspective as a former teammate of Vrabel’s was quite interesting. Brown acknowledged that Vrabel was a catalyst for the team’s historic first Super Bowl in 2001 and engrained himself into the culture in Foxborough.

“He’s got a history with the team, history with the Krafts. I’m sure (Vrabel) impressed (the Krafts) like he’s done many other people,” said Brown.

“He does well in front of people. Obviously, he does well in front of his football team, the media and knows all the right things to do and how to push the buttons. He pushed our buttons when we won our first time, so obviously, he’s going to be able to push the buttons of this football team when he’s in front of them in the team meeting room.”

Brown’s been here through it all with the Pats. Parcells. Carroll. Belichick. Mayo. When asked specifically if there’s any legitimacy to the comparisons between Vrabel and Parcells, he almost immediately jumped into an answer.

“I can see that,” Brown sad. “I can see that. They’re very vocal people. Parcells was very vocal..Parcells was like that, always trying to get up under your skin as a player. (Parcells) was a punt return coach. He was the head coach but also the punt return coach. So, I heard it every time the ball went in the air.

“Do this.’ ‘Do that.’ ‘Don’t do this.’ ‘Don’t do that.’ ‘Get your shoulders…get your pads up.’ Constantly in my ear.’ ‘You don’t do this.’ ‘You don’t do that.’ ‘You’re gonna do this or else you’ll be on the bus with everybody else going home.’ Just constant jabbing at me all the time. It just made me a better player and able to focus on my job while I had somebody in my ear too because football is loud. The crowd’s going to be cheering. Player’s are going to be screaming at you. You’ve gotta be able to handle it.”

Back when he was just a bull-busting teammate, could Brown tell that Vrabel would one day be leading a team, especially the Patriots?

1000%.

“Oh of course. Easily, probably one of the most vocal players I’ve ever been around,” Brown added. “That defense had a lot of guys who were pretty vocal. Obviously, he handles himself in front of (the media), he’s done well in front of the team and obviously, irritated the heck out of us on offense. That’s who he was, just trying to break us.

“When he did, he took advantage of it.”