The New England Patriots showed a nice gesture on Wednesday, as the team’s rookies sang “Happy Birthday” to Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel.
It isn’t often you see a softer side of New England Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick, but we got a glimpse of that on Wednesday when he sent his rookies to sing “Happy Birthday” to Tennessee Titans head coach and former Patriot linebacker, Mike Vrabel.
The two teams had their first of two joint practices on Wednesday, and aside from the playful trash talking between Pats quarterback Tom Brady and Vrabel, there was another light moment.
It occurred when Belichick sent his rookies over to sing to the Titans head coach, who happened to turn 44 on Wednesday.
https://twitter.com/jwyattsports/status/1161652082937618432
It was a nice moment before the two teams commenced practice.
Only in a Patriots-Titans joint practice: Bill Belichick sends the rookies to the far field to sing Happy Birthday to Titans Coach Mike Vrabel. Then Vrabel breaks down the rookies in a huddle, seemingly his way of saying thanks.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) August 14, 2019
Vrabel was a valuable Patriot for eight seasons of his career, and his connection to Belichick,
Brady, and his old team, is still very special.
Prior to the joint session, Belichick praised Vrabel’s abilities as a coach (might want to turn your volume up).
Bill Belichick on Mike Vrabel. Had some high praise, from what I could hear. pic.twitter.com/YkAiQfSbpn
— Erik Bacharach (@ErikBacharach) August 14, 2019
The Titans and Pats will hold yet another joint practice on Thursday, with a Preseason Week 2 matchup coming on Saturday night in Nashville.
These two teams met in Week 10 of last season, with the Titans beating the Patriots 34-10.
Some bad blood was created after the game, following comments by Titans running back Dion Lewis; however, as it stands now, that doesn’t seem to have caused any issues between the players on Wednesday.
Of course, it was the Patriots that got the last laugh. New England marched through the playoffs and won Super Bowl No. 6, while the Titans lost a Week 17 do-or-die game against the Indianapolis Colts with quarterback Blaine Gabbert under center.
Going into 2019, the Patriots are once again a favorite to win it all. The Titans are looking to improve upon three-straight 9-7 seasons en route to a run in the playoffs.