Bill O'Brien has his hands full as head coach of the Boston College Eagles, but he's feeling extremely upbeat about the Patriots under new head coach Mike Vrabel.

NEW ORLEANS — If only Mike Vrabel knew what A.J. Brown was actually writing in his notebook. The newly hired Patriots head coach and the Eagles receiver have a tight bond nowadays, but when Vrabel’s Titans drafted Brown with a second-round pick in 2019, it wasn’t all smooth sailing during team meetings.

Vrabel joined the Patriots staff after a 14-year NFL career that included three Super Bowl wins, an All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl nomination. Since retiring in 2010, he's spent