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CBS analyst breaks down why Patriots’ decision to hire Mike Vrabel will be ‘model’ for other franchises
New England Patriots
“We use the word presence a lot with coaches. Does anyone have more presence than Mike Vrabel? He’s got it.”
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So far, the Patriots’ decision to hire Mike Vrabel has paid off.
After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, New England appears to be experiencing a football renaissance, sitting atop the AFC East at 5-2.
During the Patriots’ 31-13 blowout win over the Titans, CBS analyst Charles Davis broke down why other teams will be looking for a coach like Vrabel during future searches.
““As we start coaching searches in the NFL, and we’re gonna have a few more,” Davis said. “I believe people are going to use Mike Vrabel as a model about what they’re looking for in their next head football coach.
“With an organization, he pulls together everyone, right? Yes, he’s known as a defensive coach. I get that,” Davis added. “But the relationship he’s forged with his quarterback, Drake Maye, who’s playing at a really high level, lets you know that he’s locked in on everything on this team, special teams, offense, defense, the whole deal.”
New England, of course, was only able to hire Vrabel because the Titans decided to fire him after the 2023 season. Vrabel spent a year as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns, whom New England will face at Gillette Stadium next week, before returning to the franchise he won three Super Bowls with as a player.
Vrabel played linebacker for the Patriots, but he has shown an ability to connect with players in all three phases of the game. He has a hands on approach which involves him wearing a practice jersey at times during practice. He often refers to players, such as Stefon Diggs, by nicknames in press conferences.
Defense is Vrabel’s forte, and he inherited a team that was already pretty good at stopping the run. Their pass-defense is a work in progress. But, the biggest transformation has taken place on offense where Maye, Diggs, and Josh McDaniels have helped revive a once-dead down field passing attack.
The quick turnaround suggests that Vrabel’s approach works beyond the areas where he’s most comfortable with, Davis said.
“He has his hands on everything, every part of the organization and the pulse,” Davis said. “He’s like the antidote to all the offensive guys that we talk about. We use the word presence a lot with coaches. Does anyone have more presence than Mike Vrabel? He’s got it.”
The 24-year-old forward had a career-high 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 2024-25 with the Sabres before getting traded to Utah in June, 2025. Peterka posted 47 points (25 goals, 22 assists) through 82 games in his first year with the Mammoth.
“He’s got an elite shot. Probably gives us another look on the elbows in a power play situation. His power play minutes dipped a little bit last year; his 5-on-5 production has been really good, plays both wings, can probably play with a couple different types of centers,” Sweeney said.
Peterka had a similar assessment for himself.
“I think a pretty fast game, likes to score goals,” he said. “Just overall, exciting player that loves to make plays.”
Sweeney also sees a versatility in Peterka’s game that can benefit his new teammates up and down the lineup.
“I think he fits into a good group age-wise because he’s able to have played in the league with all the experience he’s had, the success he’s had, so he can ride shotgun with David because he has had scoring,” Sweeney said. “He can go down and drive a line, which he has done.”
The prospect of him playing with someone like David Pastrnak is something that excites both Sweeney and Peterka.
“That would be pretty sick, not going to lie,” Peterka said. “If you have that caliber of a player, I think everyone wants to play with him. From the past, playing against him, even watching him, was always super special. I would be super honored, for sure.”
While Peterka has already played four full seasons in the NHL, he still has his whole career in front of him. He joins a young new wave of Bruins players – alongside the likes of Reichel, Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov and James Hagens – who will carve the future identity of the team. The ceiling is high for Peterka.
“In JJ’s case, he has had success. We have to come in and put him in the right situations so he continues to score at the level we think he can. Morgan [Geekie] is a great example,” Sweeney said. “Did we think he was going to score 39 goals when we first acquired him? No. But that’s always the hope – that a player will take advantage of a new opportunity and playing with different types of players than what they were in their other environment.”
Peterka is ready for the challenge and to prove that he has another gear to his game to help the Bruins win.
“I think it’s always nice to have a fresh start. I think especially after the year I had last year where I wasn’t really happy with the performance I put on the ice,” Peterka said. “For me, I feel like it’s a fresh start. And for a team like Boston, it couldn’t be any better.”
Editor’s note: Follow live World Cup standings updates and analysis for the round of 32
Paraguay fans can breathe a sigh of relief, their team is headed to the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay rebounded nicely after a tough first match against the United States, defeating Turkey and drawing Australia, finishing the group stage in third place and officially qualifying for the knockout rounds when Uruguay lost to Spain on Friday night.
However, it does not get easier from here, as Paraguay will take on Germany in the round of 32.
SHOP: Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup tickets
The match will take place outside of Boston at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. and is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to buy tickets for Paraguay vs. Germany’s in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay tickets
Germany vs. Paraguay round of 32 World Cup ticket price
With its Group E win, Germany will play its Round of 32 match at Gillette Stadium on Monday, June 29. As of publication, the cheapest available tickets for Germany’s game in Boston start at $1,044.
Germany World Cup Round of 32 game information
- Where: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
- What time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Tickets: Starting at $826
- When: Monday, June 29
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay World Cup tickets
More: Here’s how to buy 2026 World Cup Final tickets in New York
When is Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup game?
Germany clinched the top spot in Group E on Saturday, its Round of 32 match will take place on Monday, June 29.
Where is Paraguay vs. Germany World Cup game?
Germany and Paraguay will play their round of 32 game outside of Boston. This will be the team’s first game in Foxborough, Mass. for the tournament.
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay World Cup tickets
Germany World Cup schedule
- Sunday, June 14: Germany def. Curaçao WIN 7-1
- Saturday, June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast WIN 2-1
- Thursday, June 25: Germany vs. Ecuador LOSS 2-1
- Monday, June 29: Germany vs Paraguay in Boston (round of 32) – Shop tickets
Shop Germany vs. Paraguay World Cup tickets
World Cup Group E standings
Paraguay World Cup schedule
- Paraguay vs. United States – LOSS 4-1
- Paraguay vs. Turkey – WIN 1-0
- Paraguay vs. Australia – DRAW 0-0
- Monday, June 29 – Paraguay vs. Germany in Boston (round of 32) – Shop tickets
World Cup Group D Standings
Shop Paraguay vs. Germany tickets
Boston, MA
Photos: Norway takes on France in high-powered World Cup matchup in Foxborough – The Boston Globe
The fifth World Cup match in Foxborough features two strong teams and two of the best strikers in the world.
Kylian Mbappé leads France against Erling Haaland and Norway in the final group-stage game being played in Foxborough. On Monday, Germany will take on a yet-to-be-determined opponent in a Round of 32 elimination game, and Foxborough’s final match will be a quarterfinal on July 9.
Here are scenes from Friday’s game from Globe photographers.
Lane Turner can be reached at lane.turner@globe.com. Finn Gomez can be reached at finn.gomez@globe.com. Christian Kantosky can be reached at christian.kantosky@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram at @ckantoskyphoto.
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