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Checking out the Reasons for Mike Vrabel's Absence from Chiefs Camp

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via cache.boston.com

The commencement of the Kansas City Chiefs voluntary practices has started not without slight controversy.  Brian Waters, who is absent reportedly due to a tiff with head coach Todd Haley, and Mike Vrabel have been absent from offseason activities.  The practices have been voluntary so technically this shouldn't be an issue.

But the word "voluntary" is used lightly in this case as all NFL coaches expect all players to be there, whether they can punish them or not (they can't in this case).

Since we know the reasons for Waters' absence, let's take a look at a few of the possible reasons for Vrabel's absence.

Money

According to NFLPA records, he is entering the final year of a five year deal signed in 2005.  The deal included a $5 million signing bonus and a $2.2 million base salary this season.  Translation: he's costing us $2.2 million in cap dollars (the Patriots take the hit on his signing bonus pro-ration).

He's entering the final year of his deal, which is the reason some might opine that money is the reason he's not attending the OTAs.

This is the largest base salary in his original five year deal so I would reject the notion that his absence is money related.  Of course, everyone wants more money, but Vrabel didn't exactly seem excited to be here in his initial press conference so my guess would be that he'd opt to hit the open market sooner rather than later.

Age

Maybe Vrabel isn't showing up because he's 34 years old and has been in the league for 12 years.  He's a veteran 3-4 linebacker having been coached under two of the better systems in recent memory in Pittsburgh and New England.  It's not like he doesn't know what he's doing.  

He missed three games in eight years in a Patriot uniform so I don't think the conditioning argument is strong.

He wouldn't be the first player to choose family over the voluntary offseason practices in the latter stages of his career.  Jason Taylor chose Hollywood over voluntary offseason activities with the Dolphins last year.  Tony Gonzalez chose to stay away from voluntary offseason activities this year before he was traded.  

If Vrabel is choosing to slowly transition his move to Kansas City, then missing voluntary OTAs is part of it.  I think we forget that these are people, as well, and that being uprooted from your home for the last eight years doesn't come without its bumps.

Voluntary

In theory, these offseason activities are voluntary so Vrabel shouldn't have to be there.  In reality, coaches expect all players to be there.  They can't fine or otherwise punish players for missing the voluntary portions of the offseason, according to the current collective bargaining agreement.

Of course, those are just words in a legal document.  Players are routinely dragged through the mud in the media for missing practices.

***

While I would prefer Vrabel to be present, I'm not putting much thought into his reasons for missing.  Nor do I really care that much.  He's been around the block and understands what it's like to be a "true professional", as Scott Pioli and Todd Haley have said on a number of occasions.  

The only advantage to be gained by him being there would be to place him in a mentor-type role with the defensive ends transitioning to outside linebacker.  But, at the end of the day, the coaches can handle that.  That's why they're there.

I'm not putting much stock into the questions of dedication some folks are asking of Vrabel.  He's a professional and he'll show up when the time comes.

0 recs  |  Comment 12 comments |

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If there were any “reporters” in the KC sports media, they’d be all over this. Contact Vrabel, his agent, his ex-teammates, and find out what is up, instead of leaving us speculating. I don’t dismiss this as lightly. Vrabel is pretty much done as a player. He was brought here mainly for one thing, mentoring, helping with the 3-4 hybrid transition, leadership. He’s not showing a good example.

by dablueguy on May 21, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Don't fool yourself...

Vrable wasn’t brought in to mentor players. We’ve heard enough veterans (Favre for one) say they have no interest in mentoring young players. Would you want to train the guy who is gunning for your job? Vrable was brought here for 2 reasons; our LB’s were god awful, and New England didn’t want to pay an aging linebacker $4M next season.

I do not snort the coke I only smoke...sensimilla.

by HIV 2 Elway on May 21, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

mentor

For a few million a year I would like to be a mentor type player, rather than a retired player

by weakdaze on May 21, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I think Vrabel was set to be involved a charity event this weekend

Something he has participated in for several years running.
I saw something about it in a 5 second blip on some news show, but ow I can’t find a reference to it.

The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw

by Texas Chief on May 21, 2009 12:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

when was the last time the Patriots traded away an old player with anything left in the tank?

The Patriots don’t let good players go. I think the guy was packaged in the Cassel deal because,

  1. The Patriots felt he was done. In 2008, he recorded the fewest sacks (4) in any season as a Patriot. He’ll turn 35 this season, so it isn’t likely that he will ever improve on last year’s numbers.
  2. The Patriots save 3.2mil against the cap.

So, from where I sit, he didn’t make the voluntary camp because it didn’t matter much to him: He’s playing for a paycheck this year and looking forward to Sundays at home in front of the big screen in the den.

by LennytheCool on May 21, 2009 4:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Agree and disagree

I agree that the Patriots have shown a tendency to release guys at the right time, but not necessarily because they have nothing left in the tank.

The Patriots don’t let good players go.

Asante Samuel. He was an excellent player and they let him go. Like someone on this site said, the Patriots don’t necessarily go after the big name free agents, they make the big name free agents.

by Joel Thorman on May 21, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Follow the money

Save 3M over one more yr of adequate play.
Vrabel was probably the reason that the Chiefs got Cassel for a 2nd rd pick.
It helped NE with some cap issues. just Bizness Baby :)

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on May 21, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The Patriots don't save 3.2 million against the cap

They’re still on the hook for the pro-rated portion of his bonus ($1 million).

by Dagda on May 21, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The bonus paid to Vrabel doesn't apply to the Chiefs' salary cap

The Patriots paid Vrabel the $5 million bonus, not the Chiefs, so Vrabel shouldn’t (cant’) count for his allotted salary AND bonus but instead counts against the cap only for his allotted salary.

by Dagda on May 21, 2009 4:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Whoops, Fixed

Nice catch. I’m usually good about those sorts of things.

by Joel Thorman on May 21, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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