NFL head coach Mike Vrabel discusses what college football programs need to do regarding issues related to the transfer portal.
A Hard Look at How Modern College Football Affects Player Unity
The transfer portal has certainly impacted college football; some coaches feel it’s not necessarily for the better. In a recent interview, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel expressed his thoughts on the transfer portal, beginning with supporting college football players being paid but being mindful of how that could affect their egos.
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“It’s if we are getting a different player,” Vrabel began, speaking to how some college players come into the NFL with a mindset focused on individual output. “I’m all for players getting paid. But the ability to move when they wanna move…that’s taking some of the team aspect away.”
The former Ohio State University standout linebacker has always been regarded as a consummate teammate. He brought this to the Patriots, becoming part of their dynasty under head coach Bill Belichick and winning three Super Bowls.
Vrabel highlighted how being a professional football player demands an adjustment during the interview on the Triple Option Podcast. “But that’s okay, we can figure it out. We’ve gotta figure that out, because the team is critical in this game. It’s a long season, it’s a tough season, and the team is the only thing that’s going to get you through those tough times.”
Vrabel’s concerns about players getting NIL deals and having the transfer portal were just one of the things about the college game that haven’t made him want to return to coaching at that level.
“Three years in college was enough for me,” he said to former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer on the podcast. Vrabel was an assistant for Meyer during that time. And I took off for the NFL, and I’m sure Urban told you. Urban didn’t want to hire me. He’ll tell you, he didn’t want to hire me, or that was just his way of motivating me, and he did a good job because I learned a lot there, but I just felt like the pro game was where I wanted to be.”
KEEP READING: ‘They Just Pissed Them Off’ — Mike Vrabel Reveals What Fueled Ohio State’s Title
Vrabel also noted how his former coach has taken over the program at the University of North Carolina, wishing him well for the upcoming season “unless they’re playing Ohio State.”
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