FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel addressed the media on Tuesday, stating that he has engaged in “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, coaching staff, team officials, and players. This comes in the wake of the release of photos featuring Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.
He described these discussions as “positive and productive,” emphasizing the importance of making good decisions both on and off the field. “That includes me. That starts with me,” Vrabel declared during an unscheduled statement at the team’s facility, marking the second day of the offseason workout program.
The images in question, taken at a Sedona resort before the NFL’s annual meetings in Phoenix on March 29, were published by the New York Post earlier this month. The photos were released earlier this month.
A spokesperson for the Patriots confirmed there are no plans for additional comments from team officials regarding the situation.
The NFL has stated that it is not conducting an investigation into Vrabel’s actions. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press that the league is not pursuing the matter.
Both Vrabel and Russini, who are married, issued written statements to the Post minimizing the implications of the photos. Nonetheless, Russini resigned from The Athletic shortly after, as the report triggered an internal investigation at the Times-owned sports outlet.
Vrabel explained that he spoke to players about the issue on Monday, as they began their voluntary workout program. Although two Patriots players were slated to speak to reporters on Tuesday, Vrabel opted to address the media first, aiming to prevent the photos from diverting attention from the upcoming NFL draft starting Thursday.
He stressed that any conversations with team officials would remain confidential.
“We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction,” he said. “There are comments and questions that I’ve answered with the team and will keep those private to ourselves.”
Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including “SportsCenter” anchor, NFL analyst, and insider. She also hosted a podcast and appeared on their video platform.
Before Tuesday, Vrabel had not spoken to the media in a news conference setting since the owners’ meetings.
Last year, before his first season with the Patriots, he spoke to reporters in preparation for the NFL draft. He chose not to do so last week, leaving Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf to address the media on April 13.
“Very involved. Business as usual,” Wolf commented on Vrabel’s participation in the team’s draft process. “I’d say he’s been in there with us this round probably a little more than he was in there last year. … He’s been in there. He’s been contributing. He’s watched a ton of the players.”
Vrabel, 50, is a three-time Super Bowl champion with New England. He is gearing up for his second season as head coach of the Patriots, having led them to a 14-3 finish last season, ending with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle.
Vrabel expressed his commitment to focusing on football moving forward.
“I care deeply about this football team and am excited to coach them. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus,” he said. “What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, coaches, and our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward. That’s what I know and I’m excited to do that.”
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