Mike Vrabel sends loud and clear message to Jaxson Dart after massive hit on Monday night originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots improved to 11-2 on the season after defeating the New York Giants 33-15 on Monday night. The win puts the Patriots back on top of the AFC standings ahead of a late Week 14 bye week.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe physicality from the Patriots' defense was evident throughout the evening. Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was sacked twice and hit seven times. The most notable shot Dart took was on a scramble down the sideline in which Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss sent him flying sideways into the bench, which led to a brief brawl and resulted in a penalty on Giants tight end Theo Johnson for starting the scuffle. Dart was okay and didn't mis a snap.
After what was one of the more physical games of the season, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about the hit on Dart, to which he sent a loud and clear message to the rookie, and all other quarterbacks.
"That's a weekly reminder to the quarterback [and] our quarterback," Vrabel said. "We show [Drake Maye] every week... I wouldn't get too cute over there by the sidelines. It happens every week. Christian's playing through the whistle, and as long as the player's in bounds, he's gonna try to hit him legally."
Dart himself says he isn't changing the way he plays, and said that getting hit is part of the game.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I understand the question, but this is football," Dart said. "I'm going to get hit if I'm in the pocket or outside the pocket. I've played this way my whole entire life. It shouldn't be any shocker to anybody if you've followed along with my career. We're not playing soccer out here. You're going to get hit, things happen. It's just part of the game."
The Patriots head now head into the bye, and they will host the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 in a game that could decide the AFC East.
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