Minutes after the Patriots wrapped up their preseason finale last Thursday night, coach Mike Vrabel made headlines with an off-hand comment in his press conference.

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Before the game, the team had learned wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk would undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, and a report about Polk’s status surfaced shortly before kickoff.

When asked about the report post-game, Vrabel said he had nothing to add except this: “I don’t know; other than I’d like to find out where some of these (reports) come from. Some of these rats around here. We’ll figure that out.”

On Monday, Vrabel clarified his comments with a smile during a Monday morning interview on WEEI.

“I love how you take everything I say and just run. You get all nervous. There’s rats all over the place — whether that’s inside this building, outside this building, I just love the flow of information,” he said. “I just felt inclined, and I was pissed off because we stunk and we couldn’t do anything, so I tried to entertain you guys a little bit.

“I was ready to get home and get back to Foxboro.”

Earlier last week, the Herald reported the Patriots have made safety Kyle Dugger and outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings available for trade, a report since confirmed by several outlets. When asked about Dugger and Jennings before Thursday’s game on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Vrabel took a crack at midday host and radio gameday analyst Scott Zolak, who posed the question.

“I don’t know. You reported a lot of things that may not have been true,” Vrabel told Zolak. “So I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the reports that go around. You know that better than anybody.”