The New England Patriots are on the verge of hiring their third head coach in as many seasons with all indications pointing to Mike Vrabel becoming the next man up in Foxborough.

The Pats were thought to be rebuilding a few years ago. Looking back on it, from Tom Brady's exit to Jerod Mayo's, they were falling apart.

More to the point, Vrabel never coached under Belichick. He hasn’t worked in Foxboro in 15 years. In that time, he developed his own network and identity, moving from Ohio State to the Texans, Titans and Browns. Vrabel collected invaluable experience that would have served Mayo, also his own man, had Mayo ever flown the New England nest.