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Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters Tuesday about a controversy involving him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini after photos of the two at an Arizona resort were published. The photos were of Vrabel and Russini holding hands in a pool at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos earlier this month. Both are married. Vrabel said he addressed players about the matter on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary workout program. Two Patriots players were scheduled to be made available to reporters on Tuesday, but Vrabel said he wanted to speak before they did. He also said he didn’t want the interest in the Post photos to take attention away from the NFL draft, which begins Thursday.”I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about — my family, the organization, the coaches, the players — those have been positive and productive,” Vrabel said. “We believe, in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction.” Vrabel said any conversations he’s had with team officials would stay private.Russini has stepped down from her position at The Athletic since the photos were published. Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. The Athletic is conducting an internal review.A Patriots spokesman said there are no plans for other team officials to address the issue further.The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.Vrabel said his focus going forward is football.”I care deeply about this football team and excited to coach them. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus,” he said. “What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, coaches and our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward. That’s what I know, and I’m excited to do that.”The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters Tuesday about a controversy involving him and NFL reporter Dianna Russini after photos of the two at an Arizona resort were published.
The photos were of Vrabel and Russini holding hands in a pool at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos earlier this month. Both are married.
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Vrabel said he addressed players about the matter on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary workout program. Two Patriots players were scheduled to be made available to reporters on Tuesday, but Vrabel said he wanted to speak before they did. He also said he didn’t want the interest in the Post photos to take attention away from the NFL draft, which begins Thursday.
“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about — my family, the organization, the coaches, the players — those have been positive and productive,” Vrabel said. “We believe, in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction.”
Vrabel said any conversations he’s had with team officials would stay private.
Russini has stepped down from her position at The Athletic since the photos were published.
Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict.
The Athletic is conducting an internal review.
A Patriots spokesman said there are no plans for other team officials to address the issue further.
The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.
Vrabel said his focus going forward is football.
“I care deeply about this football team and excited to coach them. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus,” he said. “What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, coaches and our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward. That’s what I know, and I’m excited to do that.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
