Mike Vrabel often starts his press conferences with a hello to MassLive Patriots reporter Karen Guregian before she asks the first question.
It’s become a tradition for the Patriots coach, one he explained on “NFL Countdown” on Sunday.
“Karen covered me here and covered us here when we were players here,” Vrabel told ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “So it felt like it was only right.”
Guregian, who joined MassLive in 2023, has been covering sports for 40 years. Featured on the ESPN segment prior to the Patriots-Tennessee Titans game, Guregian opened up about why she thinks Vrabel always looks to her for the first question.
“I think its a respect thing,” she said on ESPN. “I’m a familiar face. I think he knows what he’s getting, pretty much, when I’m gonna ask him a question.
“It’s almost like he’s setting our culture by going to the same person first all the time,” Guregian later added, “like he’s keeping us in line.”
The 2023 Sportswriter of the Year, Guregian has earned the respect of those around her, including players and coaches, over her four decades of sports coverage.
“Everyone trusts Karen Guregian,” former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi said.
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