Training camp is finally here, and the Patriots are set to get into the full swing of things for the first time under Mike Vrabel. The team has repeatedly expressed their excitement over the new regime, gushing over how their new head coach has drastically changed the doom-and-gloom atmosphere of last season, which is also rubbing off on the fans.
That will inevitably pick up once the pads come on and we can finally see what the improved roster can do this summer. New England will be fired up again after a rough last few years, especially after recording back-to-back 4-13 seasons.
It is clearly time for a more serious atmosphere back in Foxboro, especially since the Jerod Mayo era was primarily regarded as far too relaxed and unserious for a team hoping to become relevant once again.
That attitude is already being felt in the building this summer, however, as Mike Vrabel appeared to embrace his inner Bill Belichick when answering a repeat question during Tuesday's press conference.
Titans media workroom can’t stop laughing at this pic.twitter.com/H2Fov827Eb
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) July 22, 2025
Mike Vrabel isn't kidding around about the Patriots being taken serious again
Although many felt it was time for Belichick to move on from his pillar in New England and there was a need for change behind the scenes, the tone that he brought to the Patriots was long missed last season, which won't be the case this year.
Vrabel might not be a clone of Belichick in most regards, but he's certainly a more no-nonsense style of coach that the team desperately needed to get back on track. He made that clear by taking it to a reporter on Tuesday morning, making it apparent that there will be no tolerance for funny business or foolishness moving forward.
Whether that was the intention of the reporter is unknown, but Vrabel made sure to set the record straight for future press conferences. It's setting a standard in all facets of the Patriots' facility and making it clear that they are not a team to be overlooked, which is a welcomed change for the organization and its fans.
The hope, of course, is that this translates onto the field as well. There's no reason to believe it won't since several players have already vocalized their support of what Vrabel and the new regime are trying to accomplish with the team. They've bought what they're selling and that will inevitably show on game day.