The two weeks before the Super Bowl every year are filled with the media running with some player's or coach's comments that would normally be easily forgotten during the regular season, and turning the words into complete hyperbole. That has already started as the Seattle Seahawks get set to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Early this week, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about quarterback Drake Maye's apparent injury (he may or may not have a shoulder issue), and the coach rightfully didn't go into detail. There simply might not be a reason to discuss Maye's presumed issue, as he might not have a problem that would come close to affecting his future performance.
What Vrabel said next has gotten even more attention, though. He was simply paraphrasing something that has been said by every NFL team every single season. That is, playing football, a collision sport, is tough on one's body, so no one is going to go through a season without a bruise or five.
Patriots' Mike Vrabel says something every member of the Seattle Seahawks would understand
The Patriots coach said, "No, I wouldn’t say that anybody hurt anything (during the AFC Championship game)… Everybody, including Drake, is not 100 percent."
But many pundits and fans seem to take that as Vrabel saying that all the Patriots were actually injured, which is, of course, ridiculous. Every player might be getting treatment for something, but that's what happens every season. The Pats coach also pointed out that the Super Bowl would be New England's 21st game of the year.
He was attempting to subtly clarify why he would suggest no one on his team is "100 percent," but the implication appeared to get lost in translation by many. What could be worse is if NFL talking heads begin talking about how easily the Seahawks should beat the Patriots since New England isn't very healthy.
If Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald was asked about what Mike Vrabel said, Macdonald very well could echo his colleague's thoughts. If a player isn't injured and hasn't been all season, they are likely a backup who never plays, such as a quarterback. That is one of the few ways to stay unharmed.
Ultimately, what Mike Vrabel said shouldn't get that much attention, and he almost certainly didn't mean to get any from what he said. It is unlikely the Seattle Seahawks coaches and players will think twice about what he uttered. They know the truth, just as the New England Patriots do.