Mike Vrabel

[IceSpeed]

Sorry about the 2 Patriot's posts, but Mike Vrabel is among the best
football players in the NFL. He is not under-used either.
He has always played very well. Not only is he an elite
linebacker, but he made a catch a few weeks back as a TE. This
catch was a catch that most wide-receivers could not make(It was way
better than the ones in the Super Bowl and against San Diego).



I wonder why he has never been considered to be in
the Derrick Brooks or LaVar Arrington category even though his play on
the field dictates that he is a top OLB.

 

[Don Wassall]

I've been following Mike since his days at Ohio State, when he set the Big 10 record for career sacks and was the anchor of an excellent defense that started seven whites out of eleven.

One reason Vrabel hasn't received more recognition --besides not being black -- is the way he was misused by Bill Cowher after the Steelers drafted him. For several years he played very little and missed a year due to injury, as the Steelers had neither the desire nor patience to develop him at linebacker or as a pass-rushing specialist. It wasn't until he signed with the Patriots that he even became a starter.

BTW, one of my favorite memories of absurd media bias was when Vrabel secured a playoff win for the Steelers against ironically enough the Patriots, by hitting Bledsoe on a crucial third down play near the end of the game and stripping him of the ball. The ball rolled into the stomach area of another Steelers linebacker, Jason Gildon, who was lying on the ground unaware of what was even going on. All he had to do was use his hands to secure this gift after it rolled into him. The announcers immediately made the prone black defender who luckily ended up with the ball the hero of the game. Replay after replay was shown -- and not one single time was Vrabel identified as the player who had actually made the play! All glory be to Jason Gildon!

Postscript: The over-rated Gildon totally burned out as an athlete at the age of 30, while Big Mike Vrabel keeps getting better and better.

Edited by: Don Wassall

 

[hollywoodnorth]

I personally think Urlacher is the most versatile linebacker. He has lined up for three positions for the Bears so far in his career: LB, S, TE. The only LB that has done this as far as I know. His last two years have been sub-par and filled with injury, but when healthy, I think he is better than any linebacker not named ray lewis.

 

[Bear-Arms]

Keith Brooking is an excellent looking linebacker that I hear little about. Brian Urlacher suffered from a defensive scheme that didn't suit him. Luckily that defensive coach was fired though. Hopefully, he can stay healthy because last year it look like he was gonna have a monster season.

 

[IceSpeed2]

With Teddy Bruschi out for the season, Vrabel has a
lot of responsibility. The Patriots linebacking core is now in
trouble.

 

[Don Wassall]

Monty Beisel was signed from Kansas City because of the likelihood that Bruschi would either miss the '05 season or not be up to speed. New England has one of the deepest, and whitest, LB corps in the league. They should be just fine at the position.