If there's a defensive MVP on the team, would not Vrabel be the leading candidate? Could a guy playing the inside for the first time in his career be a Pro Bowler?
They are valid questions, though such accolades are the farthest thing from Vrabel's mind right now, when his team is just starting to get into a winning rhythm; the Patriots have won two in a row for the first time this season as they approach Sunday's game at Kansas City.
As the season began, the Patriots didn't have Bruschi, and so the Monty Biesels and Chad Browns had to take their shots inside.
Vrabel saw his first inside duty in a loss to Denver Oct. 16. Since then, he has been a mainstay.
''I like it," said Vrabel. ''I like the change. I'm not rushing the passer as much as I used to, which I enjoyed doing, but if this is helping us on defense, then that's what I'm all about.
''I don't care about the individual things or what it may or may not be doing to me. I just care that on Sunday I'm playing a position that they need me to play and trying to do the best I can to make a play to help us win."
Vrabel's move inside has meant that Rosevelt Colvin has become a full-time outside linebacker, with Willie McGinest. Colvin has also benefited from more playing time; he resembles the pre-hip-injury Colvin, the one who played at a Pro Bowl level with the Bears when he fed off Brian Urlacher.
Vrabel, 30, understands that circumstances change rapidly in New England, given the opponent or the game plan for the week, but if he stays inside, he'll embrace the opportunity.
''I never assume anything like that around here," he said. ''It's been four or five games and I've been doing it. I'm really learning on the job. Every week it seems I face something that I haven't encountered before, and that's exciting for me and the way I'm reacting to things.
''Tedy's alongside me, so he's putting his two cents in, and that's great because I'm playing Tedy's old spot, so who knows better about what's going on than Tedy? We communicate very well around here.
