Mike Vrabel’s Attendance at Travis Kelce’s Wedding Gave a Glimpse of What’s to Come
Kansas City Chiefs’ Tight End Travis Kelce married a pop star on Friday. Taylor, something or other (Yes, I’m joking). The ceremony wasn’t official, as technically the couple were legally married in June, according to a Paige Six report.
There were many high profile celebrities in attendance. Adam Sandler, Timothy Chalmanet, Selena Gomez, and Bradley Cooper - just to name a few. The NFL Community also had a strong presence, including Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel and his wife, Jen. In any previous offseason, Mike Vrabel, arguably, would blend in with the other NFL attendees. Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and even Joe Buck are more popular figures in and around the NFL than Vrabel.
After Vrabel and former The Athletic Reporter Dianna Russini were caught in what appears to be a six-year-long affair, the Coach’s notoriety has increased. Videos of the Vrabel’s getting into the car service for the wedding were met with online criticism - many commenters thought it was ungentlemanly of Mike Vrabel to get into the car before his wife. Based on how they had to get into the car, it was actually more gentlemanly for Mike to get in first. That way Jen wouldn’t have to scoot across the seat and potentially wrinkle, or snag her dress.
The content of the comments isn’t the part the Patriots and the NFL should be concerned about. It’s the AMOUNT of comments. Vrabel got into a car, and X exploded! What happens this season when Vrabel smiles at a female reporter asking him a question? What happens if the Patriots get off to a slow start? What happens when/if anyone else on the team is caught in an affair?
The noise surrounding the Russini/Vrabel scandal hasn’t gone away, despite ESPN (partially owned by the NFL) and others refusing to report on it. Pro Football Talk (Half owned by Mike Florio) and independent journalist Tony Farmer have been the most consistent outlets to report on the matter. Seattle Mike’s done a pretty good job too.
Expect more social media trends and PFT posts as we inch closer and closer to the season opener, Patriots versus Seahawks.
The Athletic is also expected to drop a report on their findings of Dianna Russini’s reporting while working for the New York Times subsidiary. That will surely generate more storylines and social media posts as well.
In other words, the noise surrounding Vrabel’s attendance at the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding, was just a taste of what will surely come around Week 1 of the NFL season.
-Written by Seattle Mike