NFL analyst braces for Josh McDaniels to be the bad guy with Patriots

Josh McDaniels is expected to be back with the New England Patriots for a third stint in the place where he won all of his Super Bowls. Of course, that doesn't guarantee he will hoist another Lombardi. Still, owner Robert Kraft and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf will believe he gives them the best shot of the candidates available.

Of course, he also brings a potential edge, unlike many other coaches in the league. On Wednesday's edition of "Pro Football Talk," NFL analyst Mike Florio explained how a lighter version of Mike Vrabel could help to counteract the harsh rhetoric of McDaniels.

[00:02:19] "You got Mike Vrabel there to the extent that if Josh McDaniels slips into the Belichick mode and takes things a little too aggressively, a little too sharply in this critique of players or whatever, Vrabel can kind of soften it and it could be a good cop, bad cop thing," Florio said.

"Let McDaniels rip the offensive, guys, and then Vrabel cracks a joke and everybody laughs. That's how it could work and it could work very well."

The Patriots might have reached a middle ground, going from the harsh, tough-as-nails rhetoric driven by McDaniels and Belichick to the lighter Jerod Mayo year, finding a spot in the middle with the harsh McDaniels to the lighter Mike Vrabel.

Exploring what's at stake for Josh McDaniels

Josh McDaniels at New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders - Source: Imagn

With Drake Maye entering his all-important second year, McDaniels has an opportunity to prove that he pushed the Patriots over the top with Tom Brady and gave Mac Jones his best season.

If he could elevate Maye on top of that, he could insert himself deeper into the middle of the Belichick-Brady debate.

Of course, many would argue that the team needs to add some pieces to the roster on top of McDaniels to give him more options in the passing game. However, the AFC East is a very different place from the one he left behind.

When he left, the Patriots were still one of the top teams in the division on a perennial basis. The Bills have proven that as long as Josh Allen is around, they will be the favorites until proven otherwise.

Can Josh McDaniels be one of the pieces to get the New England Patriots back on track?

If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Pro Football Talk," and H/T Sportskeeda.