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Mike Vrabel breaks silence after Dianna Russini kissing photo leaks
TL;DR
Mike Vrabel addressed his past actions after a photo of him kissing Dianna Russini surfaced. He acknowledged that his behavior doesn't meet his own standards and will miss the Patriots draft work for counseling.
Key points
- Mike Vrabel addressed his past actions publicly
- A photo of him kissing Dianna Russini surfaced
- He will miss Patriots draft work for counseling
Mentioned in this story
Mike VrabelDianna RussiniNew England Patriots
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel addressed "previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to" on Thursday evening after Page Six shared an image showed him kissing former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini about six years ago.
“I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about," Vrabel told reporters, per Sleeper HQ's Carlos A. Lopez. "My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to. They don’t."
MORE: Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini timeline, from photos to statements.
Vrabel's Thursday comments come after word broke that he will not attend Saturday's Patriots draft work to undergo counseling.
"My family needs me this weekend, and that's where I'll be," Vrabel told reporters, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Vrabel's mention of "previous actions" is the closest he's gotten to addressing the scandal that started with photos of him cozying up to Russini at an Arizona hotel in March.
Some time after the Page Six report surfaced on Thursday, Russini deactivated her X (Twitter) account. She also resigned from her job at last week.
Q&A
What did Mike Vrabel say about the kissing photo with Dianna Russini?
Mike Vrabel stated that his previous actions do not meet the standards he holds himself to and took accountability for the distraction caused.
Why will Mike Vrabel miss the Patriots draft work?
Mike Vrabel will miss the Patriots draft work to undergo counseling following the controversy surrounding the leaked kissing photo.
What is the timeline of events between Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini?
The timeline includes the leaked photo from six years ago and Vrabel's recent acknowledgment of his actions, which have drawn public attention.
