Sports
Sources: Collier back to Lynx on supermax deal
Napheesa Collier signs supermax contract to return to the Lynx
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Dianna Russini's resignation was the only way this could end | Opinion
TL;DR
Dianna Russini resigned from her position at the Athletic following controversy over photos with NFL coach Mike Vrabel. Both have denied any wrongdoing, but the situation escalated after the Athletic initially defended her before launching an investigation.
Dianna Russini's resignation was the only way this could end | Opinion
An ugly situation just got uglier.
In a move that was beginning to seem inevitable, Dianna Russini, an NFL "insider" for the Athletic, resigned Tuesday, a few days after the New York Post's Page Six published photos of her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel hugging, holding hands and lying side by side in a hot tub at an Arizona resort. Both Rossini and Vrabel are married to other people.
Both have denied that there was anything untoward going on in the photos, taken at the pricey Ambiente in Sedona. Originally, the Athletic backed Russini, saying the photos "lacked essential context," then backtracked and said it was investigating the incident and pulling her from NFL coverage in the meantime. The near-immediate, strong initial defense reportedly upset some journalists in the Athletic newsroom.
Dianna Russini continues to deny anything improper
In a statement announcing her resignation, Russini continued to deny anything improper.
“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published," Russini said in a letter to the executive editor of The Athletic, obtained by the Associated Press and that Russini shared on social media.
"When the Page Six item first appeared, the Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.”
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Tampa head coach Todd Bowles talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
1 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
1 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
2 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
3 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
4 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Tampa head coach Todd Bowles talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
5 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
6 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
7 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
8 / 8
See head coaches attend 2026 NFL League Meetings in Phoenix
Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur talks to the media during the NFL League Meetings on March 30, 2026, at Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
As for Vrabel? The Patriots have said it is "business as usual" for him, although he won't address the media in the days leading up to the NFL draft, as he did last year. Questions about the photos assuredly would have come up if he had.
The Athletic says 'additional information emerged' in its investigation
Steven Ginsberg, the Athletic's top editor, said in a memo to his staff on Tuesday, "When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter.
"As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation. While our investigation into Dianna’s conduct was ongoing, she chose to resign.”
What was the additional information? Who knows? And who knows what Russini and Vrabel were up to in Sedona? There are a few things that jump out about the whole thing, however. One is that Russini is, professionally speaking, bearing more of the brunt of the impact of the photos than Vrabel. Getting pulled from your job is a lot different from "business as usual."
And yet for journalists, it has to be. A common misconception is that reporters are friends with the people they cover. In some cases that may be true, but it's not recommended. A reporter-source relationship can be friendly and professional, but beyond that it needs to remain adversarial. Because eventually the reporter is going to have to write or broadcast something the source doesn't want them to, and the reporter is going to have to do it anyway. Credibility is crucial to a journalist, especially at a time when the media is under constant attack and being blasted as "fake news."
It's unfair yet true that women face a double standard when it comes to sports reporting. They've long fought the ridiculous notion that they don't belong, or that they don't know anything about sports. (I would suggest talking with Mina Kimes about football for those who believe that. She knows more than you do.)
What Russini does with her life is her business. But women working in journalism have already said that even the perception the photos suggest is harmful. And that really stinks.
The 'insider' role in sports media complicates things further
The "insider" role common among sports coverage complicates things further. The very name of the role suggests an inside source, someone getting information no one else can. Sometimes the stories these reporters break are interesting. Sometimes they're stupid, like blasting out a story about some bottom-level NBA player signing a new contract nobody cared about in the first place. But when you traffic in information, that's what happens. You lose context.
Access journalism can be useful, certainly, but it can also be dangerous, because it greatly increases the chances that a source has an ulterior motive in giving the reporter information. Just look at the Washington press corps. Or the "reporters" ― actually sycophantic media lackeys ― the Pentagon tried to stack its media briefings with. Sometimes the access just isn't worth it.
There are already stories out there about what's next for Russini, though no one really knows and she isn't saying. It seems clear what's next for Vrabel ― "business as usual," though you never know. It's a sordid story, but it's not just about morality, which is none of our business, it's also about journalism, which very much is.
Valley 101: Route 66 bypasses Phoenix. But not to save time. Here's the weird tale
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Media commentary with a side of snark? Sign up for The Watchlist newsletter with Bill Goodykoontz.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why Dianna Russini's Athletic resignation was inevitable | Opinion
Q&A
Why did Dianna Russini resign from the Athletic?
Dianna Russini resigned due to controversy surrounding photos of her with NFL coach Mike Vrabel, which led to an internal investigation by the Athletic.
What were the details of the photos involving Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel?
The photos showed Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel hugging, holding hands, and lying together in a hot tub at a resort in Arizona.
How did the Athletic initially respond to the controversy surrounding Russini?
The Athletic initially defended Russini, stating the photos lacked essential context, but later retracted their support and pulled her from NFL coverage.
What impact did Russini's resignation have on the Athletic's newsroom?
Russini's resignation reportedly upset some journalists in the Athletic newsroom, particularly due to the initial strong defense of her actions.
