Patriots' Mike Vrabel Talks Tom Brady Relationship After Comments Leading Up to Packers Game

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel caused a stir with his comments about former teammate Tom Brady ahead of Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but he isn't concerned about the public perception.

Vrabel appeared to indicate some iciness between him and Brady when he told reporters last week that he was "required contractually to catch up with him at some point." However, he clarified his relationship with Brady on Monday.

"I talk to Tom," Vrabel said during his radio appearance on WEEI (15:20 mark). "You guys take everything I say at face value."

Brady, who won six of his seven career Super Bowls with the Patriots, returned to New England as a Fox broadcaster for Sunday's game against the Packers. Legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski was also on hand to be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame during the game. Unfortunately, their comeback didn't bring any luck to their old franchise, as the Patriots suffered a 45-27 loss in front of their home fans at Gillette Stadium.

Vrabel was a member of three of New England's Super Bowl-winning teams, so it surprised many when he seemed to dismiss the idea of catching up with Brady before Sunday's game.

"I think I'm required contractually to catch up with him at some point," Vrabel said during last week's press conference . "I'm sure it'll be a Zoom. I'm sure they won't show up here; I'm sure it will be on Zoom. Yep, there you go. So yep, contractually I'll be talking to him, and I'm sure I'll see him at Gronk's [Rob Gronkowski] induction on Saturday."

After falling to 5-4, it's understandable that Vrabel is looking to move past the hubbub about his relationship with Brady. The Patriots will have another tough test on Sunday when they face the Detroit Lions (6-2) in the NFL Munich Game.