Hard work pays off for Stephen Neal

By Ryan Finley

February 1, 2008

Patriots guard Stephen Neal probably never thought he would play in the Super Bowl.

That is because Neal never played college football.

Neal was a standout wrestler at Cal State-Bakersfield who signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2001; three years later, he made New England's starting lineup. Neal, a 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound guard, has started 51 games since 2004.

"It's not really a path I could choose," Neal said. "Luckily for me, I got an opportunity, and the Patriots' organization let me go down this path for quite a while without seeing any upsides. I was very fortunate to be kept around."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Neal "deserves everything he's gotten."

"Nobody worked harder or is tougher or gives more of himself than Steve Neal."

Versatile, reliable Vrabel is Hall of Fame material

February 3, 2008

BY MICHAEL ARACE



Pending further developments, there are 16 linebackers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There are six Ohio State Buckeyes (Sid Gillman, Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Jim Parker, Paul Warfield and Bill Willis) in Canton -- seven if you count coach Paul Brown. Obviously, these are very exclusive clubs, and it's likely that Mike Vrabel will add to their ranks at some point in the next 20 years.

Vrabel sneaks up on you, doesn't he?

Scouts Inc. recently took every player who will suit up for Super Bowl XLII and ranked all of the Patriots and Giants, from 1 to 106.

Vrabel was No. 10 on the list. That underrates him, but, then, what else is new?

Vrabel was a tight end when he reported to Ohio State from Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls. The Buckeyes apparently had enough big receivers, so Vrabel was moved to defensive end. No problem.

Vrabel's set school records with 36 sacks and 66 tackles for losses. He was a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. His record for sacks in a season (13) stood for 10 years, or until Vernon Gholston broke it in the recent national championship game against LSU.

This was good enough to get him picked at the bottom of the third round of the NFL draft. Apparently, there were 90 players better than Vrabel -- including four of his OSU teammates, Orlando Pace, Shawn Springs, Rob Kelly and Ty Howard -- when he came out in 1997.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made him into a backup linebacker and stuck him on special teams.

Hey, these things happen. They happen to Vrabel all the time. He spent four seasons in Pittsburgh and considered retirement when his contract reached term. Think about that for a second.

Vrabel signed a free-agent deal with the New England Patriots in 2001. The Patriots used him at outside linebacker in their 3-4. No problem. They used him at inside linebacker. No problem. They moved him back outside this season. No problem.

Vrabel had a career-high 12½ sacks this season, the most by a Patriot since Andre Tippett's 12½ in 1987. Vrabel made the Pro Bowl for the first time, at age 32.
How many games did the Patriots win? All of them.

The perception is that Vrabel isn't even the best of the aged corps of Patriots linebackers at this point. Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau get more attention. No problem.

Vrabel's numbers are adding up. He has 542 tackles, 371 solo, and 44 sacks in seven seasons with the Patriots. These figures speak to consistent production of the highest level.

Vrabel has been known to check in at tight end when the Patriots line up at the goal line. He blocks. He catches. No problem. He has eight career receptions, all for touchdowns.

Vrabel caught a touchdown pass to help the Patriots win one of their titles, a 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He also had two sacks in that game. He nearly won the MVP award, which went to quarterback Tom Brady.

Vrabel is one of 17 players to have caught two touchdown passes in Super Bowls. And he's a linebacker. At least, it is believed he is a linebacker.

Vrabel is the first and only player to have two touchdown receptions and a sack in the same game, which he did in December 2005.

During his tenure in New England, the Patriots have an 86-26 regular-season record and they've won three Super Bowls. They'll probably add a fourth title today.

A time will come when their dynasty will decline and, farther down the road, the football historians will make their assessments. Brady will lead a list of New England luminaries who will be enshrined in Canton.

Vrabel, who has been sneaking up on us for 15 years, won't sneak into the Hall. He'll be ushered into the place.

Mike Vrabel: The Most Efficient Pass Catcher in NFL History

Mike Vrabel at center of Pats' greatness

January 29, 2008

BY DREW VAN ESSELSTYN

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Mike Vrabel looked around the tent outside the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and found himself in good company.

Diagonally across the makeshift room was fellow linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who has played in every Patriots Super Bowl since his rookie season of 1996.

Immediately to Vrabel's left was Kevin Faulk, whose subtle contributions were invaluable in three Super Bowl wins. With a 90-degree tilt of his head, Vrabel could make eye contact with Richard Seymour, a Pro Bowl fixture at defensive end.

But perhaps none has been more integral to the Patriots' Super Bowl success -- they will try to win their fourth championship in seven seasons Sunday -- than Vrabel.

Not bad for a guy who at one point contemplated retiring after four seasons, thinking his career would be little more than a footnote in the Pittsburgh Steelers' media guide.

"To really look back ... sometimes I still have to pinch myself," Vrabel said this week.

A standout defensive end at Ohio State, Vrabel was taken by the Steelers in the third round of the 1997 draft but never found a home there. From his rookie season through 2000, he never started and had just seven sacks in 51 games.

Despite a mundane career to that point, the Patriots still sought out Vrabel and signed him to a free-agent deal in March 2001.

"Every year, we've brought guys in who have helped the team, added to our team," Vrabel said.

That year, it was Vrabel, and New England has reaped the benefits. Very early on, the Patriots made Vrabel a starter, and he has responded with 44 sacks in seven seasons -- including 12 1/2 this year.

He has plugged holes as an inside and outside linebacker, but much of his success this season has been because he's been able to focus solely on playing the outside -- and rushing the quarterback on a nearly every-down basis.

Perhaps most impressive, his imprint has been on each Super Bowl:

• Early against the Rams, Vrabel rushed from the outside into the face of Kurt Warner, halting Warner's follow-through and forcing a fluttering pass that Ty Law intercepted and ran back for a touchdown.

• His best game came against the Panthers, when he had two sacks, a forced fumble and a juggling touchdown catch.

• And against the Eagles, Vrabel added another sack and a touchdown catch.

Vrabel's defensive career was reborn when he arrived in New England, and he's even made his mark on offense, becoming the most efficient pass catcher in NFL history. His 10 career receptions have all gone for 1- or 2-yard touchdowns -- and it's a safe bet he will have another opportunity near the goal line Sunday against the Giants.

"For all the great things Bill (Belichick, the head coach) does ... he has faith in his assistants," Vrabel said. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the offensive staff "give me the nuts and bolts when I go over there. They tell me, 'Just don't mess it up.'"

Given what he's done with his second chance with the Patriots, that's the last thing Vrabel would do.

"We've won three Super Bowls," he said. "I would say this has exceeded any expectations I had."