Patriots’ Mike Vrabel jumps into scrum vs. Commanders

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel may be 15 years removed from his playing days, but that didn’t stop the former linebacker from getting involved in a scrum on Wednesday.
During a joint practice with the Washington Commanders in Foxborough, Mass., the first-year Patriots coach jumped into a pile of players and came away with a bloodied cheek.
The scrum occurred after New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson went to block a blitzing Commander, which quickly escalated into multiple players piling up on the field.
Vrabel, who turns 50 on Aug. 14, later needed a bag of ice on his right cheek, but his actions drew praise from Patriots players.
“That’s what we’re trying to build and it starts with the head coach — intensity, bringing it every day, taking no crap when we’re out there on the field,” New England quarterback Drake Maye said. “The mentality, I like it. That’s what you want.”
Maye added that the Patriots will review the film of Vrabel getting involved in the squabble, which was quickly de-escalated. Washington and New England are set to open their preseason schedules against each other on Friday.