When reached via e-mail, Patriots outside linebacker Mike Vrabel confirmed that he has been dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs, as first reported by the NFL Network.
In response to an e-mail that asked, "Have you been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs?" Vrabel responded with a one-word answer: "Yes."
And so ends his eight-year career with the Patriots, which includes three Super Bowl titles and the only Pro Bowl berth of his career, which came in 2007, when he had 12.5 sacks, the most by a Patriot since 1987 and the most by a Patriots player under coach Bill Belichick.
Vrabel, who will turn 34 in August, finished fifth on the Patriots in tackles last season with 67, according to coaches' calculations, but his sack number dropped to four. He also had an interception.
Vrabel denied rumors that he was hampered by a shoulder injury that was affecting his production.
He was acquired by someone who knows him well: Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli is of course the former player personnel director for the Patriots.
A veteran of 12 NFL seasons, Vrabel, who signed with the Patriots as a free agent in 2001, was entering the last year of his current contract and was due to make $2.2 million in base salary, but count $4.3 million against the cap. It's possible his trade was done with an eye towards creating more cap space for the Patriots.
It is uncertain what the Patriots will receive in return for Vrabel, though ESPN's John Clayton is reporting it is an undisclosed draft choice.
