Slater saw future coach in old pal Vrabel
FOXBORO — On Sunday in Nashville, Bill Belichick will face a team coached by one of his former players. That’s a first for Belichick. And Mike Vrabel not only will face his old head coach, but a trio of former teammates from his 2001-08 tenure with the team: Tom Brady, Stephen Gostkowski and Matthew Slater. Slater yesterday reflected on the one season he spent as Vrabel’s teammate. “In the 11 years I’ve played I think of all the guys I’ve played with and what they may be doing after football and who I would pin to be a head coach and it would be Mike Vrabel,” Slater said. “The two things that stuck out to me in the short time I was with him would be his leadership skills and the way he held people accountable. Those are two things that you really need to be successful as a head coach if you want to run the right type of program and get your team where you hopefully want it to be.” After transitioning into coaching at his alma mater, Ohio State, Vrabel took over as the Texans’ linebackers coach in 2014. He was promoted to defensive coordinator a year ago, and accepted the Titans’ head coaching job this past spring. “I think he’s well-suited for the job,” Slater said. ”He’s got the brain for it. He’s got the drive, the passion, the discipline, and he’s a leader of men. It’s really no surprise that he’s moved up the coaching ranks as quickly as he has.”
Burkhead back
Running back Rex Burkhead, currently on injured reserve, returned to the practice field yesterday. Burkhead was placed on IR with a neck injury following a Week 3 loss to the Lions. Yesterday was the first day he was eligible to practice. Under a new NFL rule, players returning from IR must miss eight games — not eight weeks — before being activated. Burkhead cannot play until Week 13 against the Vikings . . . . For the first time since he arrived in New England via trade, wide receiver Josh Gordon is no longer listed on the injury report. Gordon, who dealt with a hamstring injury for months, has been a full practice participant this week. “I wasn’t even sure I was on (the report), but I guess it’s a positive,” Gordon said.
Steady Teddy
The depth on the offensive line is an important aspect of the Pats’ success. Backup Ted Karras is a key part of that. Shaq Mason remains limited with a calf injury in practice. If he cannot play against the Titans, Karras will make his second consecutive start at right guard. “Part of my role here has been to be ready at all three (interior line positions) and I was just glad to get out there with the guys,” Karras said of the Packers game. “It was fun.”