Mike Vrabel will have to address “laughable” allegations within the next two weeks
Mike Vrabel doesn’t owe anyone an explanation about his personal life. But if he’s acting as a source for an NFL insider? That’s a completely different conversation—and one he won’t be able to avoid for long.
New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel and NFL Insider Dianna Russini are in hot water due to circulating photos of the two holding hands, spending time in the pool, and reports of dancing (I think I hear a gasp from every parent from the town in Footloose). The incident took place at a resort known as a romantic getaway. And based on the photos, it lives up to the hype.
Since the story broke, both Vrabel and Russini have categorically denied accusations of an affair. Vrabel and Russini are both married with children, for what it’s worth.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the NY Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
Russini’s comments drew a little more criticism. “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.”
The first part of Russini’s statement is a defense to the alleged affair that’s not relevant to this article (Though I’ll admit I’m curious why none of the four people she’s alluding to have come forward).
It’s the second part of Russini’s statement that pushes Vrabel into a corner. Being described as a “source” is no small thing for the Head Coach of an NFL team. Because there’s an important distinction between an interview subject and a “source”.
We’ve all seen Vrabel as an interview subject before. His appearance on Bussin With the Boys where he agreed to cut off his member in exchange for a Super Bowl Win comes to mind. That might have solved a few of his problems, actually.
But a “source” is more secretive. Imagine a blacked-out face with a deep voice changer. That’s what sources are to the general public. Head Coaches, however, should have very visible faces with very clear, unchanged voices!
Vrabel having a direct pipeline to the media, via Russini, gives the Patriots the ability to manipulate storylines, push narratives, even tamper with players from other teams.
If Russini drops a story saying something like…oh, I don’t know. Let’s pick something random like… “The Patriots are interested in AJ Brown.” She’s essentially communicating to Brown on behalf of the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel is going to need to address that point, and all the subsequent questions and points that come from it. He’ll certainly be asked about it at his next mandatory media availability, at the NFL Draft on April 23rd.
The shame of that is Draft Night should be primarily about the players being drafted and the life-changing position their hard work has put them in. Not about Head Coach/Media scandals. Vrabel has one way to ensure the questions remain about the players on Draft Night, and he’s not going to like it.
He needs to host a press conference.
The sooner the better.
He needs to make it clear that the press conference may be the only time he’s going to address the accusations of being a source to Russini. Surely reporters will ask questions about his personal life too – but he should shut those down and keep it about football. Then at the draft when a reporter asks him about Russini, he can refer them back to the press conference and keep the draft about the players.
Vrabel can keep laughing off the accusations all he wants. But the questions aren’t going anywhere. And if he never addresses it, every narrative about the Patriots will be put under the largest of microscopes and inevitably be a distraction for the coach and the club.
Address it and move on,
Or let it linger and bring down the organization.
Vrabel’s choice.