Throughout Bill Belichick's tenure in New England, the atmosphere was well-known, and you always knew what to expect during practices or press conferences. Once the legendary coach was let go, there was a demand from fans for a more relaxed atmosphere in the building, marking the dawn of a new era in Foxboro.
That's exactly what they got with Jerod Mayo, only to an extreme that seemed to cause more harm than good for the team. It's part of what ultimately led to Robert Kraft's decision to let him go after just one season, bringing in Mike Vrabel, which is already proving to be the best choice he could have made.
The impact that the former Titans' head coach has made on the team is palpable, and that is even more apparent after just a few days of training camp. Besides the influx of fans present to watch practice, there is a lighter yet more focused and optimistic feeling in the air, which Vrabel even spoke about with reporters this week.
The attitude has shifted in New England in all the right ways
Before the start of the first exciting practice on Wednesday morning, Vrabel couldn't help but rave about the new atmosphere among the Patriots. It's a significant change from what was seen last summer, as the initial excitement already began to wane once training camp began.
“I think we’re grateful. I think we’re excited. There’s an energy in the building. The players seemed excited… I’m excited to hit the field with them, and our coaches are ready to work and continue to build what we started.”
Considering that at this point last year, there was already considerable chatter suggesting a lack of faith and trust in Mayo's regime, as well as concerns about the lack of experience within the coaching staff, which would ultimately hinder the team's success, the excitement surrounding this year's team is much needed and incredible to hear.
Although this doesn't guarantee it will translate onto the field, it's an attitude shift that will help the team gel and work together more positively, rather than leading to rumors of an alleged mutiny happening behind the scenes.
This is the kind of team that was run during some of the best years of the Patriots' dynasty, as they were all on the same page, put the team before themselves, and embraced each other like a brotherhood. If that can remain stable throughout the season, there's reason to believe they'll yield more success than anyone could have envisioned.
That's the impact that Vrabel appears to have already made and will continue to make as the season progresses.