Tom Brady once threw touchdown passes to Mike Vrabel as a secret weapon in New England, and now some Patriots fans think the duo has a secret beef after the fanbase closely dissected his tone while he talked to the media about Brady.

Patriots fans overread Vrabel's words Wednesday when he discussed Brady's return to Gillette Stadium as a FOX analyst for Sunday's Patriots-Green Bay Packers game, after saying a conversation with his old quarterback requires a contract and a Zoom link.

The former teammates will cross paths around Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame induction. Vrabel sounded amused by the formalities of their reunion. Vrabel was inducted in 2023 as the hall's No. 34 member, with Brady following the next year as No. 35.

"I'm required contractually to catch up with him at some point," Vrabel told reporters. "I'm sure it'll be a Zoom. I'm sure they won't show up here. I'm sure it will be Zoom."

"So, yep, that's contractually I'll be talking to him," he continued. "And I'm sure I'll see him at Gronk's induction on Saturday." The repeated emphasis on contractual obligations fueled speculation about lingering friction.

In reality, Vrabel likely meant the customary production meeting between coaches and the television crew preparing to broadcast their game, as the Patriots-Packers game is scheduled for Sunday on FOX, where Brady serves as lead analyst.

Brady's remote appearance stems from his role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL rules restrict his access to teams' facilities and practices, so Zoom is one of the easiest alternatives.

Sunday's game marks Brady's first appearance calling a game at Gillette Stadium, with Kevin Burkhardt handling play-by-play.

Brady previously upset some of New England's fanbase after saying he had "no dog in the fight" and didn't root for the franchise where he won six championships ahead of their Super Bowl loss to Seattle.

Former Patriots Vince Wilfork and Asante Samuel criticized the comments, while others understood Brady's position because of his ownership interests elsewhere.

Vrabel said the remark didn't damage their relationship, though it didn't end the speculation. "Tom's a friend, he'll always be a friend," he said, acknowledging that Brady had moved into a different chapter of his football life.

One fan joked that Vrabel apparently needed a contract to speak to someone who helped define his playing career. Another wondered why a Patriots coach would meet with a rival franchise's owner.

Vrabel won three Super Bowls alongside Brady and even caught 10 touchdown passes from him as a linebacker deployed near the goal line.