Mike Vrabel Breaks His Silence on Dianna Russini Photo Scandal

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has damaged his silence on the rumors surrounding his relationship with fired NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

Vrabel, 50, spoke to media throughout a press conference on Tuesday, April 21, the place he addressed the photographs of him and Russini — who’re each married to different folks — hugging and holding palms at a luxurious lodge in Arizona for the primary time since they had been revealed within the New York Post two weeks earlier.

Vrabel started by thanking the media members for his or her “patience” as he is remained silent on the state of affairs.

“Thank you for your patience that you’ve shown in a personal and private matter for me and obviously involved everyone. I know that that’s not easy for you and I respect that and I appreciate that,” he stated.

“I understand I could’ve addressed you guys sooner, but it was important to me to have a conversation with the players, which I did yesterday, very candidly,” Vrabel continued, noting that he does not need his private matter to “take away from the weekend of the Draft” or the “amazing journey” that the incoming rookies will start this season.

“With that being said,” Vrabel continued, “I’ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about — with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players.”

Those conversations “have been positive and productive,” stated Vrabel, including, “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, never want to be the cause of distraction.”

Vrabel stated he cares “deeply about this football team” and he is “excited” to start the brand new season.

“I know I’m going to attack every day with humility and focus,” he promised, assuring media and followers that they’re going to be getting “the best version of me going forward” within the presser. “And in order to do that, I wanted to address this and thank you for your patience,” Vrabel concluded.

When the photographs, initially published by Page Sixcirculated on Tuesday, April 7, each Vrabel and Russini instantly issued statements denying a private relationship.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel stated on the time. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

Russini, who formally resigned from The Athletic on April 14, initially stated, “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 instructed the outlet.

While Russini resigned from The Athletic as they examine her involvement with Vrabel, the Patriots coach isn’t going through any disciplinary motion from the NFL, a league official confirmed to PEOPLE on April 20. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy stated that the New England Patriots coach isn’t beneath investigation for any violation concerning the league’s private conduct coverage.

In her resignation letter, Russini stated “commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts” and added, “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.”

Russini’s resignation letter continued: “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.”