K.J. Britt details how Mike Vrabel, Patriots culture drew him in

FOXBOROUGH, Mass — K.J. Britt got a look at what the New England Patriots were building last year, having been a member of the Miami Dolphins, facing off against New England twice.

"I remember, the first play on offense, I was on the sideline, and I was looking, and I remember just watching them fire the ball," he recalled of the Week 18 game. "It looked different from any team that we had played against."

At that point, the Patriots had already clinched a playoff spot, but while some had no confidence that they would make it to the Super Bowl, Britt knew it was always a possibility.

"It didn't surprise me," he said, "because of what I'd seen."

Last season, Britt was watching from the other sidelines. But now, he's getting to experience it first-hand and is enjoying working with his teammates. He described them as a "bunch of blue-collar guys."

"This is where I wanted to be. I wanted to come up here and work with guys that are like-minded because you have some prima-donnas in this league," he expressed. "Guys who like to play the game because of the fame that comes with it. You've got some guys who love to play the game because it's a game, and it's a game that you've been playing since you were young. And a lot of these guys, they love ball, love football."

But there was one person in particular who influenced him most in his decision to sign with the Patriots. And that was getting the opportunity to work with and be coached by Mike Vrabel.

"I had a few options, but ultimately, I wanted to come here because Coach Vrabel is a player's coach," Britt explained. "Played this game. He knows the ins and outs of this game. It's a lot of stuff that y'all don't know that we know that goes on behind closed doors. And once you got someone who you can relate with, who's been through this, that's what you want to be around at this point in your career.