New England Patriots - NESN.com
The calling card of Mike Vrabel-coached teams is the culture he creates in a building.
The New England Patriots were an organization that was not lacking culture, but his complete restoration of the program in just 12 short months showcases what a difference-making hire he is.
Few players have been more vocal in their praise for the head coach than the team’s biggest star, Stefon Diggs.
Diggs continued his celebration of Vrabel with an eye-opening statement on what the coach has meant to him.
“He’s a helluva coach,” Diggs said. “He’s like another father figure, too. He’s taught me a lot in a short span of time, as far as how you approach things, and rolling with the punches, keeping a positive mindset and being selfless. It’s something I wouldn’t say I struggled with throughout my career, but being a receiver it’s hard to be all about everybody else. But when I got here, he kind of showed me, through actions, it’s always for the greater good. You’ll come up with more wins that way and you’ll be just fine.”
Diggs is a player who has faced the label of “diva receiver” at previous stops in his career.
He famously spent four years with the division rival Buffalo Bills before being traded to the Houston Texans. Many fans blamed the receiver who draws a lot of attention for soiling the relationship in Buffalo, leading to his being moved.
There has been no such talk in his 18 games in Foxboro, and perhaps his relationship with Vrabel is to thank.
