Vrabel mocks Bills' Gardner-Johnson over "practice squad" remark about Patriots' Chism
After New England beat Buffalo 29-26, Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson called Patriots receiver Efton Chism a "practice squad player". Patriots coach Mike Vrabel replied on WEEI by mocking how many teams Gardner-Johnson has played for.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 29-26 after receiver Efton Chism III caught a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. NewsweekN “The Patriots earned a 29-26 win over their AFC East rival after Efton Chism III caught a game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “made an incredible one-handed touchdown catch inside of two minutes to play that provided the winning points against Buffalo” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2Afterwards Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson dismissed Chism, saying "An elevated guy made a helluva catch", that "Probably won't hear from him again" and that "A practice squad player made a helluva play". NewsweekN “A practice squad player made a helluva play. That's all I'm gonna say.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “"An elevated guy made a hell of a catch. Probably won't hear from him again.” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2Gardner-Johnson also played down the Patriots' win, saying they "didn't do [expletive] better than us" and that the Bills would see them again at the end of the year. Per Fox News he added that the Patriots "barely scored" and "struggled all game". Fox NewsR “They barely scored. They struggled all game.” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “We'll be back to see them again.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Asked about the comments on Monday on Boston radio station WEEI, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said: "For a guy that's been on eight teams in four years? I mean, I guess he knows the drill." NewsweekN “"For a guy that's been on eight teams in four years? I mean, I guess he knows the drill," Vrabel said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “Coach Mike Vrabel was asked about it on his weekly day-after appearance on WEEI radio in Boston.” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Vrabel also praised Chism, saying "Nobody works harder" and that he practises, is on the show team and "takes a million reps". NewsweekN “"Nobody works harder," Vrabel said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets say Chism has never been on a practice squad, while Gardner-Johnson spent time on Baltimore's practice squad last season. Fox News says Chism joined as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and made the 53-man roster at the start of last season. Fox NewsR “He has never been on any team's practice squad.” Read at Fox News ↗ NewsweekN “he also spent a week on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad before getting cut last year” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Vrabel's count was not exact, but the outlets differ on the correct figure. Newsweek says Gardner-Johnson has played for six teams since 2021, and that Vrabel may be double-counting two Philadelphia Eagles stints. Fox News says he has been on seven teams since 2021, including two Eagles stints. NewsweekN “Gardner-Johnson has played for six different teams since 2021” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “Since 2021, Gardner-Johnson has been on seven teams, including two different stints with the Philadelphia Eagles.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports Vrabel's reply as a roast of a player whose comments 'raised eyebrows', then fact-checks Vrabel's team count.
- Emphasis
- Full quotes from both men, Vrabel's praise of Chism and a detailed count of Gardner-Johnson's teams.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not compare the teams' game statistics.
- Charged language
- “Fires Back”“roasting”“trolled”
- For example
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“Mike Vrabel followed a monumental New England Patriots victory by roasting a Buffalo Bills player who raised eyebrows after the game.” — Newsweek
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion-style column presenting the exchange as entertaining trash talk and giving Patriots the win in it.
- Emphasis
- Rebuts Gardner-Johnson's claim that the Patriots struggled, citing first downs, yards, red-zone efficiency and points, and ends with 'Advantage Patriots'.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Vrabel's praise of Chism's work ethic.
- Charged language
- “cutting response”“Advantage Patriots”“Close enough”
- For example
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“Close enough. Advantage Patriots.” — Fox News
What every side reports
- The Patriots beat the Bills 29-26, with a late Efton Chism touchdown catch.
- Gardner-Johnson called Chism a practice squad player.
- Vrabel responded on WEEI that Gardner-Johnson had been on eight teams in four years.
- Chism has never been on a practice squad; Gardner-Johnson was on Baltimore's practice squad last season.
- Vrabel's team count was not exactly accurate.
Where accounts differ
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How many teams Gardner-Johnson has played for since 2021
- Centre
- Newsweek: six teams, with Vrabel possibly double-counting the two Eagles stints.
- Right
- Fox News: seven teams, including two Eagles stints.
Mike Vrabel person
Mocked Gardner-Johnson's number of teams on WEEI and praised Chism's work ethic.
“Nobody logs more miles or yards or whatever we track than Chism.” — Newsweek
C.J. Gardner-Johnson person
Said he meant no bulletin-board material but called Chism an elevated practice squad player and said the Patriots barely scored.
“"Listen, we're not gonna get into no bulletin board material,"” — Fox News
Efton Chism person
Scored the winning touchdown; outlets describe him as undrafted and well-respected by his coach. No comment from him is reported.
“Vrabel also praised Chism, who has never been on New England's practice squad.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Mike Vrabel Fires Back at Bills Defender's Controversial Post-Game Comments
Mixed Treats Vrabel's reply as a roast while noting he exaggerated the team count.
Right1 article
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The Bills and Patriots are talking trash about each other and the verbal joust is very entertaining
Celebratory Column enjoying the trash talk, siding with the Patriots on the facts and the exchange.
- 5 Oct 16:48 First NewsweekN Mike Vrabel Fires Back at Bills Defender's Controversial Post-Game Comments
- 5 Oct 18:29 +1h 41m Fox NewsR The Bills and Patriots are talking trash about each other and the verbal joust is very entertaining
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.