Patriots coach mocks Bills safety over practice squad jab

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel dismissed a claim by Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson that Patriots receiver Efton Chism was a practice squad player, calling the safety's remark a sign that he knows the drill after spending time on multiple rosters. The exchange followed Sunday's New England victory over Buffalo, a game that decided the current AFC East dynamic through on-field play rather than post-game commentary.

Gardner-Johnson first addressed reporters after the loss, focusing on a one-handed touchdown catch by Chism inside the final two minutes that secured the win for the Patriots. The Bills safety described Chism as an elevated player who made a significant catch, suggesting he would not hear from him again. He further implied that Patriots quarterback Drake Maye should have targeted Romeo Doubs or another option instead of Chism, stating that Maye needed to place his confidence in his best player.

The commentary extended to the outcome of the game itself. Gardner-Johnson acknowledged that New England won but argued that the Patriots did not perform better than Buffalo. He noted that the Patriots struggled to score throughout the contest, citing their point total as evidence of their difficulty. He predicted the Bills would return at the end of the year with similar energy to challenge New England again.

Facts from the game contradict Gardner-Johnson's assessment of the scoring struggle. The Patriots finished with 29 points, while Buffalo scored fewer points. New England also recorded more first downs and total yards than the Bills, along with superior red-zone and goal-to-go efficiency. The Bills, by comparison, had fewer first downs and yards, leading to their lower point total.

The characterization of Chism as a practice squad player is also factually incorrect. The receiver joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and earned a spot on the team's 53-man roster at the start of last season. He has never been on any team's practice squad. In contrast, Gardner-Johnson was on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last season.

Vrabel responded to the comments during his weekly day-after appearance on WEEI radio in Boston on Monday morning. The coach mocked Gardner-Johnson's familiarity with roster maneuvers, noting that for a player who has been on eight teams in four years, he presumably knows what is happening. While Vrabel's count was slightly off, Gardner-Johnson has actually been on seven teams since 2021, including two stints with the Philadelphia Eagles. The verbal exchange has added a layer of friction to the divisional rivalry ahead of their next meeting later in the year.