The 2025 offseason, by all indications, has been a positive one in Foxborough. Led by a new regime and Mike Vrabel, the amateurish 2024 offseason was supplanted by one of high professionalism. Vrabel's influence was seen in every aspect of the critically important offseason activities, including instilling a new and improved culture.
In free agency, he brought in a plethora of new players, all of whom are upgrades over the people they'll replace, some of whom are already gone. These included two offensive linemen and two new receivers on offense; while on defense, a defensive tackle, two edge players, two linebackers, and a cornerback, all of whom will probably start. The draft brought in another three or four possible starters, as well. There's a housecleaning going on, and Vrabel wields the broom.
Regardless, all seemed to be going smoothly until recently, when it was reported that 2024 second-round pick (and flop) Ja'Lynn Polk was injured and would go on injured reserve. Nothing unusual there except that, evidently, Vrabel wasn't in the loop and hadn't given the go-ahead to release that information. That's when all heck broke loose.
In his play "Hamlet", Shakespeare has the protagonist say, "Something is rotten in the State of Denmark". Substitute Foxborough for Denmark, and it may be apropos. Vrabel isn't a happy camper, and he's not a guy you want to get ticked off at you if you work in the same building.
Mike Vrabel calls the people in Foxborough who leak information "rats"
Coaches get upset at players and others at times, especially media types of late in Foxborough. That's par for the course. Yet, when a coach and de facto general manager refers to people in his own organization - publicly - as "rats", it's a horse of a different color (pun intended).
Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports cited an X post by Carlos Lopez (@LosTalksPats), commenting on a leak of information by someone in Foxborough that drew the ire of Mike Vrabel.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel was asked to comment on the report that WR Ja’Lynn Polk will require season-ending shoulder surgery.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 22, 2025
“No. I don’t know. Other than, I’d like to find out where some of these [reports] come from. Some of these rats around here. We’ll figure that out.”
😳 pic.twitter.com/T02lNSAzCq
Cwik thinks the "intensity" of this situation represents a positive that the team may need after the disastrous 2024 season.
"After a miserable 2024 season, in which the Patriots went just 4-13, the team brought in Vrabel to get the franchise back on the right track. Sniffing out the person who leaked the Polk news to reporters may not directly result in the Patriots winning games in 2025, but it does show a level of intensity the franchise probably needs after a disastrous 2024."
Vrabel's ticked off and heads could roll
Not sure it's a positive in any way, but Mike Vrabel isn't a guy to get ticked off at you if you work for his football team. He's a top NFL professional, excelling in on-field management, roster construction, and all aspects of team. He needs no tutoring from anyone. There's a major media leak in Foxborough, and Vrabel looks pretty interested in learning who it is.
Mike Felger of 98.5 The Sports Hub has suggested that Vrabel wouldn't call either of the two top aides he brought in, John Streicher or Ryan Cowden, a "rat". He speculates on who it might be. If Vrabel ultimately discovers their identity, that person will find themselves on the hot seat.
The 2025 New England Patriots have a major hill to climb to get out of the hole the team's owner and former head coach created for themselves when they foolishly kicked Tom Brady to the curb after the 2019 season. Vrabel has been the first major breath of fresh air since that fiasco.
Yet, perhaps even Vrabel was saddled by owner Robert Kraft with relics of the Belichick regime in personnel administration, and maybe even with Belichick's former Offensive Coordinator, who weren't of his choosing.
The fact is, there is a leak at Gillette Stadium, and Mike Vrabel has labelled the responsible parties "rats", and that's not a great optic for a team looking to climb out of the cellar of the AFC East.