That message is rooted in a lesson Vrabel learned the hard way as a rookie linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997, when he got into a fight on the very first day of full-

FOXBOROUGH — In his first padded practice as an NFL player in 1997, Mike Vrabel said he fought tight end Mitch Lyons at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. With almost 30 more years of age and experience, Vrabel wants his current players to avoid punching their teammates.

Mike Vrabel doesn't want to see his Patriots players fight in training camp -- even though he fought in his very first padded practice as a player nearly 30 years ago.