Local Media Personality Lists Reasons Patriots Should Not Hire Mike Vrabel
The New England Patriots conducted two key interviews for their next head coach this week.
Two entirely different candidates — Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson — met with the Patriots on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Vrabel has a history with the Patriots franchise, winning three Super Bowls as a player, and he has experience calling the shots as a head coach. However, Johnson has a ceiling that hasn’t even come close to closing as one of the most creative offensive minds in the game.
While Vrabel is considered the apparent front-runner, CLNS Media’s John Zannis gave three compelling reasons why the Patriots should do the unexpected and hire Johnson instead.
UNLOCKING DRAKE MAYE’S POTENTIAL
The Patriots need to find someone to maximize the talents of quarterback Drake Maye who has Superstar potential. Maye can throw on time and off platform. … New England needs someone who can unlock Maye’s full potential, and Johnson is that guy.
HAVING AN OFFENSIVE BACKGROUND
The game has evolved, and offense is king. When you hire an offensive-minded coach, his system is always in place. If you bring in a coach with a defensive pedigree like (Jerod) Mayo or Mike Vrabel, the offense is only as good as the coordinator they hire, and if those coordinators are successful, they get snapped up by other teams, and you have to start the process all over again.
TIME TO MOVE ON FROM THE PAST
While Mike Vrabel is not technically part of the Bill Belichick coaching tree, much of what he learned about football, he learned playing here for the Patriots.
Zannis concluded by admitting that Vrabel is the safe choice, but it’s time for the Patriots to make a “bold” move.
“Patriots owner Robert Kraft has always talked about the ‘Patriot Way.’ News flash, there is no ‘Patriot Way,'” Zannis said. “There was Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and 20 years of unprecedented success. Whatever Kraft believed to ‘Patriot Way’ to be left when those two guys walked out the door.
“… The Patriots may have found their next Tom Brady in quarterback Drake Maye. It’s time to pair him with the kind of coach that will allow the two to grow together and possibly build a new legacy.”
Zannis makes a lot of sense. Do you agree with his assessment? Let us know in the comments below.