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Mike Reiss
Multiple Authors
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Mike Vrabel said he is confident that the New England Patriots’ front office and coaching staff will have a successful draft during his absence Saturday, when he will start seeking counseling after multiple media outlets posted photos of the coach with former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini.
Vrabel addressed the media Thursday after the New York Post and TMZ both published new series of photos showing him with Russini.
Vrabel declined to comment on the most recent photos, saying “my priorities are my family and this football team. In that order. … My family needs me this weekend, and that’s where I’ll be.”
In his opening remarks, which lasted three minutes, Vrabel paused at one point before collecting himself and saying: “My previous actions don’t meet the standard I hold myself to. They don’t.”
Vrabel later said he was attempting to protect his family when he initially responded that the photos showed an innocent interaction and that any suggestion otherwise was “laughable.”
“I would never be dismissive,” he said.
Vrabel said at a news conference Tuesday that he has had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff, team officials and players following the initial publication of the photos earlier this month by the New York Post.
The photos of Vrabel and Russini were taken in Sedona, Arizona, before the annual league meeting that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the Post. Vrabel and Russini are both married. Russini resigned from The Athletic last week.
Vrabel announced late Wednesday that he intended to miss the final day of the draft. The Patriots reiterated their support of Vrabel in a statement earlier Thursday.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being,” the team said. “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.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also weighed in on the Vrabel situation Thursday, telling ESPN that it was a team matter that does not fall under the league’s personal conduct policy.
Vrabel arrived through a side door in the media workroom about 40 minutes before the NFL draft began Thursday and said in his opening remarks: “I take accountability for my actions, and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care about most — my family, this football team, the organization and our fans.”
Vrabel thanked Patriots owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft for their support, along with the team’s coaches and players. Vrabel then fielded five questions from reporters and said he isn’t sure if he will be leaving the team at other points in the spring.
“I can only say that whatever my family needs, that’s what I’m going to provide,” he said. “… I’m confident that if I weren’t able to be here, we have people in place.
“I just know I’m going to take the necessary steps with the people I care about — that’s my family and this team.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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