The New England Patriots are supporting head coach Mike Vrabel after Page Six published photos of him with NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a hotel in March, and kissing in a bar six years prior in New York City.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being,” the team shared in a statement to Page Six. “Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.”
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
Vrabel said he was seeking counseling Wednesday, and that he will not be with his team for Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday to focus on family and personal matters.
“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel told ESPN.
“In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”
On Thursday, Page Six published photos of Russini and Vrabel at Tribeca Tavern in the early hours of March 11, 2020.
They sat close to each other while having a conversation at the bar, and at one point appeared to share a kiss.
“They were kissing and they were all over each other,” an eyewitness told Page Six. “He had a ring on.”
At the time the photos were taken, Vrabel was already married to wife Jen, while Russini married Shake Shack executive Kevin Goldschmidt just six months later. Each has two kids with their respective partner.
Page Six also published photos of Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, hugging and holding hands at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona in March.
Vrabel told Page Six about the pics, “These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
And Russini told us, “The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
Russini resigned from her position as Senior NFL insider at the Athletic on April 14 amid the outlet’s investigation on the situation. She did not admit to any wrongdoing.
“This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” she wrote in part in a letter to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg, obtained by Page Six. “It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
“Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career,” she continued.
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