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Mike Vrabel's Patriots reunion during Titans' bye week among reasons for firing: report

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Mike Vrabel's Patriots reunion during Titans' bye week among reasons for firing: report

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Mike Vrabel’s surprise firing by the Tennessee Titans has many questioning what went into the decision by owner Amy Adams Strunk. 

One factor was apparently Vrabel’s visit to Foxborough during the Titans’ bye week for the New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills game, which didn’t sit well with Strunk. 

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It “raised some eyebrows” within the organization, according to The Athletic.

Vrabel was on hand at Gillette Stadium because the Patriots were inducting him into their Hall of Fame. Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a linebacker over eight seasons with the team, praised the organization during his speech at halftime. 

Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium Dec. 24, 2023, in Nashville. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

“I don’t want you to take this organization for granted,” Vrabel said during his halftime speech. “I’ve been a lot of places. This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction and great coaching. Enjoy it. It’s not like this everywhere.”

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Reporters asked Vrabel if his comment that “it’s not like this everywhere” was directed at the Titans. 

“(The Patriots) have won six Super Bowls in 20 years. That’s what I was alluding to,” he responded. “I don’t know what to tell you. It’s just a lot of success.”

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Strunk reportedly “let it fester” after never approaching Vrabel about the Patriots’ reunion. 

Now, there’s a good chance Vrabel is in the running to take over as Patriots head coach. Bill Belichick’s 24-year reign with the organization came to an end Thursday as he mutually parted ways with the team.

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NFL Network previously reported that Strunk’s decision to move on from Vrabel had something to do with the Patriots’ reunion, but she wasn’t “dispelling rumors in house that he was going to be the Patriots coach.”

Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium Dec. 11, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Those rumors have been swirling around the Titans and Patriots since the latter began to struggle, putting Belichick’s future into question.

The Athletic added that “poor communication, misinterpreted statements and misunderstandings” led to Vrabel’s firing. 

“High-level Titans sources told The Athletic in November that the team’s long-term plan was to retain Vrabel as coach,” the publication reported.

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Vrabel is now one of the top coaching candidates for any number of job openings, though many are calling him the frontrunner to become Belichick’s successor in New England. 

Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans meets with owner Amy Adams Strunk before a game against the Oakland Raiders at RingCentral Coliseum Dec. 8, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Vrabel went 54-45 during the regular season in six years as Titans head coach, and he has two wins in five playoff games. 

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Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU

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Ole Miss staffer references Aaron Hernandez while discussing ‘chaotic’ coaching complications with LSU

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The chaos between LSU coaches who left Ole Miss alongside Lane Kiffin but are still coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff is certainly a whirlwind.

Joe Judge, Ole Miss’ quarterbacks coach, has found himself in the thick of the drama — while he is not headed for Baton Rouge, he’s had to wonder who he will be working with on a weekly basis.

When asked this week about what it’s like to go through all the trials and tribulations, Judge turned heads with his answer that evoked his New England Patriots days.

 

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Aaron Hernandez sits in the courtroom of the Attleboro District Court during his hearing. Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Odin Lloyd in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, on Aug. 22, 2013. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

“My next-door neighbor was Aaron Hernandez,” Judge said, according to CBS Sports. “I know this is still more chaotic.”

Hernandez was found guilty of the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, which occurred just three years into his NFL career.

“If you watch those documentaries, my house is on the TV next door,” Judge added. “The detectives knocked on my door to find out where he was. I didn’t know. We just kind of talked to the organization. But it was obviously chaotic.”

Aaron Hernandez was convicted of the 2013 murder of semipro football player Odin Lloyd. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

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Judge, though, was able to compare the two situations to see how players can combat wild distractions.

“Those players that year handled that extremely well. Came out of that chaos, and we had some really good direction inside with some veterans and some different guys. You have something like that happen — how do you handle something like that? How do you deal with something like that? So you keep the focus on what you can handle, what you can control, which at that time was football for us, and we went through the stretch, and we were able to have success that year,” Judge said.

Judge also compared this scenario to the 2020 NFL season when he was head coach of the New York Giants, saying he would have “no idea” who would be available due to surprise positive COVID-19 tests.

Head coach Joe Judge of the New York Giants looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. The game took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 19, 2021. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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The Rebels face Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, the College Football Playoff Semifinal, on Thursday night.

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Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games

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Prep talk: Calabasas basketball team is surging with 11 wins in last 12 games

Calabasas pulled off a huge win in high school basketball on Tuesday night, handing Thousand Oaks its first defeat after 16 victories in a Marmonte League opener.

The Coyotes (13-5) have quietly turned around their season after a 2-4 start, winning 11 of their last 12 games.

One of the major contributors has been 6-foot-3 junior guard Johnny Thyfault, who’s averaging 16 points and has become a fan favorite because of his dunking skills. He also leads the team in taking charging fouls.

He transferred to Calabasas after his freshman year at Viewpoint.

As for beating Thousand Oaks, coach Jon Palarz said, “We got to play them at home and had great effort.”

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This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports

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Hawks trade 4-time All-Star Trae Young to Wizards in blockbuster deal: reports

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The Atlanta Hawks have parted ways with four-time NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young, trading him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster move, according to ESPN.

The Hawks will reportedly be receiving veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert in the deal. 

Washington was Young’s preferred destination, and the two sides were working on a deal to get the 27-year-old point guard to the nation’s capital.

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Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 1 Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.   ( Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Young’s agents were having conversations with the Hawks, who sit at 17-21 so far this season, about trading their client out of Atlanta.

There is a mutual connection in Washington, too, as executive Travis Schlenk drafted Young fifth overall in 2018 out of Oklahoma.

It marks the end of an era for the Hawks. Young has been the focal point of their offense since he was taken in that draft. He is the team’s career leader in three-pointers and assists, having led the team to the postseason in three of his eight seasons. The Hawks went the furthest in 2021, where they made the Eastern Conference Finals.

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However, the new era was brewing already in Atlanta, with forward Jalen Johnson taking the next step in his career, averaging 23.7 points per game this season. The pickup of Nickeil Alexander-Walker also helps, as he’s averaged 20.5 points per game in 36 appearances.

Meanwhile, Young has played just 10 games this season, as he’s been dealing with leg injuries, most notably a right MCL sprain.

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on after the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Hawks also get some flexibility on their books, as they could make some more moves. Anthony Davis is reportedly available from the Dallas Mavericks, making him a good target for Atlanta.

Young has $95 million remaining on his deal that runs through the 2026-27 season, which includes a player option this offseason.

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Atlanta will be taking on McCollum’s contract, though the veteran guard has a $30.6 million expiring deal.

Through his 10 games this season, Young is averaging 19.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.5% from the field.

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks drives down the court during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at State Farm Arena on April 7, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Over his career, Young has dropped 25.2 points and 9.8 assists per game, while leading the league in the latter category last season with 11.6 per contest.

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