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"During his Patriots career, there was no player more respected for his football intellect and revered for his leadership by his teammates than Mike," Belichick said. "He was elected a team captain by his peers and is a player who I think everyone knew was destined to become a coach after his NFL playing career was over.
"Mike Vrabel is as well-suited for coaching as any player I have ever coached. He has a tremendous feel for people, players, coaches and what his team needs regardless of the situation. He is outstanding in his knowledge of the game, which contributed to his excellence as a player. I have no doubt Mike will develop tough, intelligent, fundamentally sound winners."
Sounds sort of what Belichick said about LB Tedy Bruschi when he retired. You know Vrabel was a key member of those Super Bowl teams and, even when he left a franchise like New England and came to one without a recent history of winning, he was still a professional and provided plenty of positives despite being on the downside of his career.