Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will miss NFL draft day following an incident with Dianna Russini, as new photos have just come out.
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will miss the final day of the NFL draft as he has decided to seek counseling following the release of photos showing him with reporter Dianna Russini. Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people.
Earlier this month, the New York Post shared pictures of Vrabel and Russini together at the Ambiente hotel in Arizona on March 28. The photos showed them holding hands, hugging, and sitting together in a pool and hot tub.
At first, Vrabel said the photos showed an innocent moment and called any other ideas “laughable.” Russini, who stepped down as senior NFL insider at The Athletic on April 14, also said the photos didn’t show the full story of their group hanging out that day.
On April 21, Vrabel spoke briefly about the situation, saying he had important talks with his family, the team, and players. He said, “To be successful on and off the field, you have to make good choices. That includes me. We never want our actions to hurt the team or cause distractions.”
The next day, Vrabel announced he would seek counseling and would not attend the last day of the NFL Draft. “I promised my family and the team I’d give them the best version of myself,” he said, according to ESPN. “To do that, I am starting counseling this weekend. I’ve thought a lot about this, and I would tell a player to do the same. I want to lead by example and be the best husband, father, and coach I can be. This is hard to admit, but I know it will help me grow. I’m grateful for the support and promise to come back stronger.”
Although Vrabel won’t be at the draft, he will stay in touch with the Patriots. Executive VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf and VP Ryan Cowden will run the draft room.
On Thursday, the New York Post shared more pictures of Vrabel and Russini, this time at a quiet bar in New York City, reportedly taken in early March 2020. An eyewitness said, “They were kissing and really close. He was wearing a ring. They looked really happy and kept giving each other little kisses. The place was empty, and no one seemed to know who they were—even the bartenders.”