Mike Vrabel, head coach of the New England Patriots, addressed the media for the first time since the New York Post published suggestive photos of him and Dianna Russini at an adults-only resort, according to reports. Both Vrabel and Russini are married with two sons, and both have denied any wrongdoing, insisting the photos are misleading, sources said. Vrabel described the Post's story as 'laughable' in a brief statement before the press conference, according to reports.
Dianna Russini, a reporter for The Athletic, was placed on leave and investigated by the outlet's parent company, The New York Times, and resigned from her position last week, according to reports. When asked about Russini losing her job, Vrabel politely declined to address the topic, sources said.
… the way Tuesday's press conference went down, with a last-minute sneak attack on the media and strict ground rules established by the Patriots, doesn't sit right.
Vrabel admitted to having 'difficult conversations with people' he cares about, including his family, the organization, coaches, and players, according to reports. He said those conversations were positive and productive. 'We believe that in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,' Vrabel said, according to reports. He added that he never wants his actions to negatively affect the team or cause a distraction.
According to Daily Mail - Sport, Vrabel described committing to seeking counseling starting this weekend to become a better person for his family and the Patriots. He said he has given the decision a lot of thought and believes it will make him a better husband, father, and coach. Vrabel will not be at Day 3 of the NFL Draft and will spend this weekend outside of Massachusetts with his family, according to reports.
The Patriots easily could have sent a heads up Monday night or Tuesday morning that Vrabel would be talking. Instead, they purposely chose a time and method that would minimize the number of reporters asking him questions.
The Patriots' handling of the press conference drew criticism. According to Daily Mail - Sport, Boston Globe columnist Ben Volin described the event as a 'sneak attack' with strict ground rules. The Patriots did not inform reporters about Vrabel's press conference until moments before he took the podium, and they restricted questioning to football topics only, according to reports.
Vrabel has escaped punishment from both the New England Patriots and the NFL, according to reports. It remains unclear what exactly happened between Vrabel and Russini at the resort, why the Patriots restricted the press conference to football topics, and whether Vrabel will face any disciplinary action in the future. The specific nature and duration of the counseling Vrabel is seeking have not been disclosed.