Tom Brady and Mike Vrabel have long been friends, as the two were teammates together for eight seasons with the Patriots.
Thus, it's natural that they would take shots at each other when the Titans and Buccaneers squared off in joint practices this summer.
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Brady, who is still playing for the Buccaneers, told his team that Vrabel has "declined" since his playing days ended. He hilariously roasted his former teammate in an interview featured in the Bucs' video series "In the Current."
Mike’s kind of an a—hole if you get to know him. He went to Ohio State. Obviously, I don’t like him. There’s a healthy competition between us always, even though he’s fat and out of shape now. Physically, he’s really declined to a pretty sad state.
Those are some haymakers thrown by Brady, but judging from his tone at the 8:20 mark in the video below, you can tell that he wasn't being serious.
Vrabel, to his credit, was able to take a couple of shots back at Brady during joint practices. The first was about how Brady has always been surrounded by a strong defense during his seven Super Bowl wins.
"I know you guys are moving forward, but it's good to see another defense carry Brady to another Super Bowl," Vrabel said to the Buccaneers' defenders.
And his other shot at Brady came on Twitter, when he called himself Jack Brady's favorite former Patriot.
Jack Brady talking with his favorite former Patriot. Also pictured, Tom Brady pic.twitter.com/ndJSht1xE0
— Mike Vrabel (@CoachVrabel50) August 18, 2021
This rivalry between former teammates has certainly been quite fun. They are not on each other's schedules during the 2021 regular season, but both are strong playoff contenders and are favored to win their respective divisions. Perhaps they will have a chance to meet in Super Bowl 56.
If not, we can at least enjoy the banter the two exchanged during the 2021 preseason.