Position Change? Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Gives Definitive Answer To Will Campbell Question
'We’re not moving Will'
New England Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell will remain just that…
Campbell’s horrific performance in Super Bowl LX — which included 14 quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats — served as the final nail in the coffin for many folks regarding his future at that specific position, with calls being made to pull the plug and move him inside.
I’ll throw my hand up on that one — it seemed like an obvious call in the moment.
Mike Vrabel wouldn’t even entertain the idea at his end-of-season media availability, however, definitively stating that the organization is sticking to its guns and will give the young man another opportunity to prove himself.
“Will is 22-years old. He’s our left tackle. He’ll get better. He’ll get stronger,” Vrabel said on Tuesday, per team-provided video. “… there’s plays he’d like to have back. We’re not moving Will to guard, center, tight end or anywhere else. I don’t know what to tell ya.”
Campbell elected not to speak with media in the immediate aftermath of the Super Bowl, though he gave an unprompted explanation for that decision during his end-of-season media availability on Tuesday.
Campbell was aware of the criticism that he has received since the game, which somewhat prompted him to share that he was suffering from a torn ligament in his knee throughout the postseason, though he added sharing that information wasn’t an excuse.
The Patriots have seen enough for them to want to continue working with the flawed but talented offensive tackle, it’s just a matter of finding out whether that decision will be rewarded or come back to bite them.
