Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stopped by WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on Tuesday morning after the team made its return from Denver following the AFC Championship game win over the weekend.
Vrabel discussed a range of topics in his weekly interview. Here’s a rundown:
The snow in Denver
After the Patriots notched a field goal on the opening possession of the second half, no other points were scored in the 10-7 victory over the Broncos.
Part of the explanation for both offenses struggling — beyond the quality of the opposing defenses — was the onset of a snowstorm.
“The wind was a factor, and then it was kind of a wet snow,” said Vrabel of the challenging conditions.
“The footing was interesting,” he added. “Those are just things that you to be ready for, and try to plan for, and adjust accordingly.”
Asked by former Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins (now a WEEI co-host) about why players weren’t wearing specialized “seven stud” cleats for the conditions, Vrabel joked about the age gap.
“It’s impossible to try to get these guys [to wear them]. They never use them growing up,” he said of the different cleats. “It’s like telling them to stay off their phones.”
Drake Maye’s end-of-game improvisation
When the Patriots needed one more first down to clinch the game, second-year quarterback Drake Maye opted improvise and run the ball himself around the edge.
Vrabel was asked if he was “mad” about the decision, as Maye predicted he might be.
“No,” Vrabel replied. “Where the timeouts were and everything else, there are certain times where you’re OK getting out of bounds if you get a first down. There are times where we’d definitely like to stay inbounds, but if you’re in that situation, resetting the downs with them [not having] any timeouts, then we’re good to go there.”
Does he have a problem with Maye freelancing on the called play?
“No he doesn’t go rogue,” Vrabel explained. “Those aren’t things that does. We discuss those things. Josh [McDaniels] and I talk him through, and what we want to do in five-minute [situations], plays that we have available, and those are always things that we can go to. Just trying to get everybody on the same page, and Drake was able to do that, and used his legs.”
Players motivation
After Patriots players (most notably Milton Williams) inevitably responded to prior rankings or predictions that placed New England lower than past opponents (including the Broncos), Vrabel was questioned about players’ comments about the subplot in the media.
“However they have to get ready to play the football game, that’s all I care about,” he said.
Does he feel the team has been “disrespected” by prognosticators?
“It doesn’t matter. We’re in the Super Bowl,” Vrabel pointed out. “We can pump this thing up for 10 days. We’re all compensated very well for what we do, so I don’t think there’s any disrespect from this building or my appreciation for our football team. It doesn’t bother me.”
Leonard Taylor’s major play
A major play was made in the AFC Championship game by reserve defensive lineman Leonard Taylor when he tipped a Broncos field goal attempt with his outstretched hand.
Taylor, who went undrafted in 2024, was cut by the Jets in October. Signed initially to the Patriots’ practice squad, his role has grown over time.
“Lenny T revenge game Week 7, it lives on,” Vrabel joked. “Started with the Jets revenge game and now we have just built on it. It’s the stuff that we find, really happy for him.”
The Patriots didn’t actually face the Jets until Week 11 (Week 7 was perhaps another revenge game of sorts for Vrabel, as New England beat the Titans 31-13).
“He’s a great kid,” Vrabel added. “We’ve talked about everybody’s journey to their career looks a little differently. He was with the Jets, we were able to pick him up. Loved his attitude, his willingness to work, and try to make some plays and help this team, and he made another one.”
The references to “The Warriors”
The Patriots, led by Vrabel, have made several references to the 1979 cult classic movie “The Warriors” in recent weeks. Asked if anyone understood the reference prior to the season, Vrabel laughed.
“There wasn’t a single [one]. I had to show them the video,” he said. “I had to actually show the movie.”
The Patriots’ coach clarified that this happened “a while ago,” but that the team’s interest in it has persisted.
“I’m like let’s see how this goes, and then next thing you know they’re walking around the building we’ve got guys with like the soy sauce bottles [clicking them together],” Vrabel said, another reference to the movie. “Then Mack [Hollins] goes and buys the little beer bottles and empties them out.”
Drake Maye’s shoulder
A Patriots subplot in the last 24 hours was the unconfirmed social media claim made by a former NFL team doctor that Drake Maye has a right shoulder injury he sustained during the AFC Championship game.
Vrabel naturally fielded a question about the video.
“There is not a player on our team that is 100 percent healthy,” Vrabel said. He didn’t address Maye’s status specifically.
“I would imagine we’ll go through the injury report and whenever we have to turn that in, we’ll turn that in. But nobody’s 100 percent. This will be our 21st game.”
Hayden Bird can be reached at hayden.bird@globe.com.