Vrabel's FBI file full of information

By Rich Thompson

Tuesday, August 9, 2005

FOXBORO – A football player doesn't necessarily need a high IQ if he possesses a substantial quotient of FBI.

In the NFL, the acronym FBI does not refer to the investigative branch of the federal government. Instead, FBI is short for football intelligence.

Patriots outside linebacker Mike Vrabel has consistently demonstrated an inherent knowledge on how the game should be played at the highest level. His FBI level is high.

"I think Mike's football intelligence is excellent," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said prior to yesterday's afternoon practice session at Gillette Stadium. "Mike is a smart person period. He's a very smart football player and he understands everything pretty much conceptually that he would want to do. Not just what his assignment is, but what the overall purpose of the defense is. What the strengths are, what the weaknesses are and why you would want to be in one defense as opposed to another when you have multiple calls."

Vrabel, a 6-foot-4, 261-pounder, recorded a career-high 76 tackles last season and was second on the team with 5 1/2 sacks. He has also been used by the Patriots on offense in goal line situations and has three receptions – all for touchdowns. In fact, Vrabel caught a touchdown passes from Tom Brady in each of the last two Super Bowls.

Kampman Gets Big Raise

Brown's Town
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Roger Brown Plain Dealer Columnist

Beachwood-based football agent Neil Cornrich is doing some pre-draft celebrating. One client, Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman, recently signed a one-year offer sheet with Minnesota that automatically gives him a $544,000 raise - regardless of whether the Packers match the contract. Yet, Kampman can still potentially become an unrestricted free agent after this season - and make even bigger money in 2006.

Kampman Signs Offer with Vikings

4/15/05
Jason Wilde Wisconsin State Journal

Intent on further strengthening their improved defense while simultaneously weakening their rivals, the Minnesota Vikings signed Green Bay Packers' restricted free-agent defensive end Aaron Kampman to an offer sheet Wednesday.

Kampman's agent, Neil Cornrich, refused to divulge terms of the offer sheet, but an NFL source said it was for one year and $1.2 million.

"It's an absolutely spectacular opportunity. Aaron is in the ultimate win-win situation," Cornrich said. "He loves playing for Green Bay, and he's very happy in Green Bay.

"(But) if he was going to go to another organization, the Vikings would be very attractive because the Packers and the Vikings are the two closest franchises to where he was raised (in Iowa)."

The Packers, who are about $6 million under the salary cap, have seven days to match the Vikings' offer. If they do not match the offer by 11 p.m. next Wednesday, they would receive a fifth-round pick for Kampman because he entered the league as a fifth-round pick from Iowa in 2002.

The deal is terrific for Kampman in that he assures himself of being paid more than the minimum restricted free-agent tender of $656,000 and will still be an unrestricted free agent following the 2005 season.

If the Packers had used the middle tender of $1.43 million on Kampman, compensation would have been set at a first-round pick and the Vikings probably would not have made him an offer.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson was unavailable for comment, simply issuing a brief statement through the club's public-relations department which read in part, "Our plan now is to take some time, to study the offer sheet to determine what is in the best interest of the Green Bay Packers."

Asked which side of the intense Packers-Vikings rivalry he expects to be on when the teams meet Oct. 23 in Minneapolis and Nov. 21 in Green Bay, Kampman replied, "Who knows? I'm flattered to have interest with two great teams. We'll see what happens."

Kampman, 25, started all 17 games (including playoffs) last season and led Packers defensive linemen with 82 tackles and finished tied for second on the team with 4 sacks.