Tom Brady trolls ex-teammate and Titans coach Mike Vrabel with birthday gift

There was chirping, there was trash talking, there was playful criticism.

But during Thursday’s joint practice between the Titans and Patriots, there was also a gift.

A day after Mike Vrabel turned 44 and a group of Patriots rookies sang “Happy Birthday” to him, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady marked the occasion by handing a gift to his former teammate and old friend: a small, plastic trophy, the type a Little League player might get for participation. On it was the score from last year’s game between Vrabel’s Titans and Brady’s Patriots: Tennessee 34, New England 10.

 “Just a friend trying to give an old friend a present,” Vrabel said. “Just a little trophy for coaching.”

The 42-year-old Brady attempted to be discreet about handing the trophy to Vrabel before practice, despite a horde of reporters standing on a nearby sideline.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to speak about that private moment,” Brady said, “but it was a nice gesture from me to him and hopefully he appreciates it.”

It certainly meant a lot to Vrabel.

“I don’t even know where it is right now,” he said after practice.

For some, it seemed like an interesting choice of gift.

“Wow. That’s a weird gift to give,” said Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan, who added he had just met Brady for the first time and noted the two were not Facebook friends. “Very cool, though. I mean, they did win the Super Bowl, so good for them.”

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel walks with a trophy that was presented to him by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady before a joint training camp practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com)

Two joint practices between the Titans and Patriots at Saint Thomas Sports Park meant reunions galore.

Brady caught up with Vrabel, who chatted with his former coach Bill Belichick, who reminisced with former members of the Patriots organization Jon Robinson (now the Titans general manager) and Dean Pees (now the Titans defensive coordinator), who caught up with former players still with New England.

It also meant a good chance to practice against someone in a different uniform before the Titans host the Patriots at Nissan Stadium on Saturday (6 p.m. CT, WKRN). Just ask Brady.

“They took care of us pretty good last year, so we knew it was going to be competitive,” Brady said. “So it’s been a good couple of days.”

Even with all the trash talking.

On Wednesday, as Brady made his way onto the field for the first of the two joint practices, Vrabel called him out for walking.

“Still walking on the field, huh?” Vrabel shouted toward Brady. “Still walking?”

Brady grinned.

“Why don’t you pay attention to your own (stuff)?” he yelled back.

It’s been like this for a while.

“March 15th, 2001,” Vrabel said. “Whenever the first day of the offseason program started (in Vrabel’s first season with the Patriots).”

Just two pals back at it, now on different sidelines.

“He’s been a good friend for a long time,” Brady said of Vrabel. “Obviously done a great job leading this team. Proud of him for everything he’s accomplished and I’ll support him even though he’s coaching for another team.”

The only thing left is for Brady to coach against a Vrabel-led team. Right?

“Oh hell no,” Brady said. “I’m never coaching. Playing is enough for me.”

Reach Erik Bacharach at [email protected] and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.

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