New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has been in the news after intimate-looking photos of him with former Athletics reporter Dianna Russini were shared by multiple outlets.
The fallout has been severe for both sides. Russini resigned from her post at the Athletic last week, while Vrabel’s position with the Patriots is being questioned. As a result, the head coach is set to miss Day 3 of the NFL draft to attend therapy.
On Friday, NFL insider Albert Breer reacted to the whole controversy, keeping the Patriots’ best interests in mind. Breer believes the recent turn of events has really shaken Vrabel’s core.
“I can just tell you factually, he has not been the same the last two weeks in that building. The sense I’ve gotten talking to people is like the bravado and everything else, I think this has taken a chunk out of that,” Breer said.
Breer raised concern that the Patriots should hope that they don’t witness this version of Vrabel for the next six weeks until summer.
“I would say, again, to me it’s like what you don’t want is that version of Mike Vrabel walking around for the next six weeks until summer. Then we’ll see what happens when he gets back,” Breer continued.
Breer said it’s better that this controversy came out now than at the start or during the season, as it would have really hurt the Patriots. He took the example of Tiger Woods and how he didn’t come out the same after encountering a similar situation.
“It’s like the Tiger Woods thing we talked about on TV last night, right? There was that whole discussion: did he lose his edge after everything happened?” Breer added. “I think that’s what you’ve got to be a little mindful of. Just like, look, ‘Mike, get yourself right. We want the full version of you.’ And you know what? If it’s a week, if it’s two weeks, if it’s the rest of the time, we just need the full version of you, and whatever it takes to get there, we’ll get you there.”
Patriots Defend Mike Vrabel After New Photos With Dianna Russini Emerged
Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini continue to dominate headlines as their alleged relationship received new updates this week. The New York Post posted photos of the two at an Arizona resort. Page Six shared intimate photos of the two from a New York Bar in 2020. TMZ also shared photos of the two at a Mississippi casino in 2024.
The thing is, both Russini and Vrabel are married to different people, and these allegations suggest an extramarital relationship between the two.
In the wake of this controversy, the Patriots have come out to publicly defend their head coach against these unproven allegations.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own wellbeing. 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,” read the statement.
“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, who took the Patriots to the Super Bowl last season, has reportedly talked to New England players about the recent events. The NFL has already stated they are not going to launch an investigation into this situation.
Read More News:
Carson Beck NFL Draft Projection: 5 Potential Landing Spots for Miami Quarterback
Will A.J. Brown Get Traded? Trade Rumors Face Scrutiny After Dianna Russini Controversy
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
