Vrabel Jokes About Catching Up With Brady Before Packers Game

Mike Vrabel says he owes Tom Brady a catch-up — and he blames his contract.

The New England Patriots head coach cracked that line on Wednesday, days before Brady returns to Gillette Stadium as a FOX Sports analyst for the Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers.

Brady, who spent about two decades in Foxborough, says the visit will hit him hard.

Vrabel sounds far lighter about it.

Fans in New England have noticed both moods.

Add a Super Bowl LX remark that never quite faded, and Sunday's game carries a storyline well beyond the scoreboard.

MIKE VRABEL'S CONTRACT JOKE ABOUT TOM BRADY

A reporter asked Vrabel on November 4 whether he would get time with Brady this week.

His answer had the room laughing.

"I think I'm required contractually to catch up with him at some point," Vrabel said.

"I'm sure it'll be a Zoom.

I'm sure they won't show up here; I'm sure it will be on Zoom.

Yep, there you go.

So yep, contractually I'll be talking to him, and I'm sure I'll see him at Gronk's [Rob Gronkowski] induction on Saturday."

Vrabel also called Brady a friend and said that will never change.

They played eight seasons together in New England, and they traded texts after Super Bowl LX.

Brady took the opposite tone when he spoke with FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd.

"It'll be certainly emotional," Brady said.

"Every inch of that stadium I've been through so many times, from the locker rooms to the meeting rooms, the fields.

I had just so many memorable plays in that stadium.

Big games, championship games and rivalry games, division-clinching games…

So to be back there and to really understand what that Patriot organization is all about.

And to convey that to the fans in a way where I'm not talking about myself.

I'm really talking about this awesome program that's been built.

And the Patriots just always seem to do things the right way."

TOM BRADY'S SUPER BOWL LX COMMENT AND THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

The sore spot dates to February.

Before the Patriots met the Seattle Seahawks, Brady spoke with Jim Gray on the "Let's Go!" show on Sirius XM.

"I don't have a dog in the fight in this one," Brady said.

"May the best team win."

Former Patriots lineman Vince Wilfork was among those who voiced disappointment.

Some fans and former teammates felt Brady should have openly supported New England.

But Brady had reasons to stay neutral.

He holds a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.

He also serves as a FOX Sports broadcaster.

Either role could have created a conflict of interest if he had publicly picked a side.

Vrabel and Brady have exchanged texts since then, according to Vrabel.

They have not met in person since the Super Bowl.

This week's reunion will change that.

ROB GRONKOWSKI'S PATRIOTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Saturday adds another layer to the weekend.

Rob Gronkowski will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on November 7.

Vrabel mentioned that he expects to see Brady at the ceremony.

"I'm sure I'll see him at Gronk's induction on Saturday," Vrabel said.

Gronkowski played nine seasons in New England, winning three Super Bowls with Brady.

He later followed Brady to Tampa Bay and won a fourth ring.

The tight end remains one of the most popular figures in Patriots history.

His induction will bring together many of the key figures from the dynasty era.

WHAT THIS REUNION MEANS FOR THE PATRIOTS

The game itself carries playoff implications.

The Patriots are fighting for position in the AFC.