Milton Williams Welcomes Mike Vrabel’s Challenge: What’s Behind the Unlikely Showdown?

When a team hands out a big free-agent payday, you’d think the player might get a bit of a pass during those early workouts, right? Not so fast, especially under Mike Vrabel’s watch. Milton Williams, New England’s new defensive tackle heavyweight, found that out the hard way this spring. Despite the hefty contract, Vrabel didn’t hesitate to call him out mid-sprint—spotting Williams easing off before crossing the finish line and letting him know, in no uncertain terms, that there’s no coasting allowed here. I gotta say, there’s something refreshing about a coach who holds everyone accountable, no matter the paycheck. Williams took the reprimand in stride, even welcomed it as a push not just for himself, but for the entire squad. The way I see it, this isn’t just about ticks on a stat sheet or snap counts; it’s about setting a tone that says no one’s bigger than the team. If Williams keeps that mindset, Patriots fans might be in for a whole new level of intensity on the defensive line this season. LEARN MORE

“He wants me to go fast and empty the tank every rep,” Williams said, via Conor Ryan of Boston.com. “I like that. I don’t think I’m bigger than the next person. I don’t mind him calling me out. Calling me out is going to help the other guys. We have no excuses.”Williams shared the story at a Tuesday press conference in New England. Patriots players were doing sprints to a designated point on the field and back when Vrabel saw Williams easing up before reaching the finish line. Williams said that Vrabel told him “don’t let them catch you” and went on to say that he’s happy to get called on the carpet because he thinks it will benefit himself and the rest of the team. The Patriots gave defensive tackle Milton Williams a huge contract in free agency, but that didn’t stop him from catching an earful from head coach Mike Vrabel at a voluntary workout this spring. Williams is going to play a bigger role for the Patriots than he was asked to play for the Eagles and Vrabel’s reaction to his practice effort is a reminder that the role goes beyond how many snaps he’ll be playing on a weekly basis.