Mike Vrabel has a whopping $250,000 fine hanging over him, but the New England Patriots head coach seems more bothered by how the news got out. He’s one of three NFL coaches disciplined recently, alongside Aaron Glenn and Nick Sirianni.
Many believe Vrabel’s fine stems from the Patriots’ Week 4 game against the Buffalo Bills, when he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after using profanity while arguing with an official over a defensive holding call. The NFL has put the fine on hold and could waive it if Vrabel maintains good behavior.
Still, the coach made it clear Monday that he was unhappy about the leak, prompting reactions from NFL fans.
Mike Vrabel’s $250K Fine Leak Sparks Fan Debate
When asked about the fine during his press conference, Vrabel declined to discuss the details.
“I don’t have any comment. Those things are supposed to be held in strict confidence, so I’m not going to comment,” Vrabel said. “I’m not gonna comment. I can’t. Not supposed to… I think it’s best just to talk to the league. They seem to have plenty to say already about it.”
Vrabel’s comments led one fan to suggest the coach was more upset about the leak than the fine itself.
“He’s more upset about the leak than the $250K fine. That’s an expensive reminder that nothing stays private in the NFL,” they wrote.
Another fan compared the situation to the restrictions coaches face, arguing that the NFL can feel like a prison at times.
“And many of you want [Matt LaFleur] to pipe off at the mic. He would be justified in doing so, but this entity operates like a prison in many ways. Rules made up, changed, and enforced differently depending on the day of the week.”
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Others focused on the size of the punishment, with one fan saying, “That’s a huge fine for a coach.”
The discussion also turned toward the quality of officiating this season. One frustrated fan wrote, “Worst officiating season of all time. The league knows it and doesn’t care either.”
Another commenter kept it brief, saying, “That’s a lot of $.”
Vrabel Jokes About Changing His Approach With Officials
Although Vrabel expressed frustration over the leak during Monday’s press conference, he took a more lighthearted approach when discussing the fine on “The Greg Hill Show.”
“No, I just tell them everything is a great call. ‘I thought you were gonna miss that one, but you got it. You nailed it. You got it,’” Vrabel quipped, making a clapping motion.
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He then explained how he stops himself from swearing at officials during games. “Every time I go to cuss at ’em, I’m like, ‘Ugh, Christmas. We got Christmas, we got holidays, we got kids.’ I just say, ‘That’s a great call.’”
The Patriots enter their next game at 4-3, sitting second in the AFC East after a 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Despite their Week 7 loss, the Patriots have shown promise on both sides of the ball. They rank No. 10 in the league with a PFN Team Impact Score of 77.6, including a 74.6 offensive grade and a 79.3 defensive grade.
The Patriots will look to bounce back next Sunday when they visit the 1-5 Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.