C.J. Gardner-Johnson just can’t quit the verbal sparring, can he? The Buffalo Bills safety went straight to social media, dropping a cryptic meme the day after Patriots coach Mike Vrabel landed a brutal verbal jab right back at him. This whole thing kicked off when the Bills fell 29-26 to their AFC East rival in Week 4.
The “Practice-Squad Player” Comment Blew Up
The drama started rolling after that Week 4 game. Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III hauled down the game-winning touchdown catch with one hand, a seriously impressive play. But Gardner-Johnson wasn’t impressed, not really. Post-game, he straight up dismissed Chism, calling him an “elevated guy” and a “practice-squad player” who “probably won’t hear from him again.” Oof. That’s a pretty cold take on a dude making a huge play. Chism actually made the Patriots’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent in 2025, and he played a season-high 34 snaps in that Bills game because A.J. Brown was on injured reserve. So yeah, he’s more than “just” a practice squad guy.
Vrabel Delivered a Knockout Blow
You knew Vrabel wasn’t going to let that slide, right? The Patriots coach was asked about Gardner-Johnson’s comments on Monday during an appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show. And man, he didn’t hold back. Vrabel fired back, “For a guy that’s been on eight teams in four years? I mean, I guess he knows the drill.” Talk about a mic drop! Gardner-Johnson has made regular-season appearances for six teams over eight seasons, so Vrabel’s words definitely hit where it hurts, highlighting that, well, *he* might be the one who “knows the drill” about moving around.
This verbal back-and-forth is clearly far from over. These two teams are set to square off again Sunday, December 6, for a Week 13 game in Foxborough. You can bet everyone will be watching, waiting to see what happens on the field when these guys meet again.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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