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Mike Vrabel to skip Patriots’ pre-NFL Draft presser amid Dianna Russini drama
TL;DR
Mike Vrabel will not attend the Patriots' pre-NFL Draft press conference on April 13 due to ongoing issues involving NFL insider Dianna Russini. Eliot Wolf will lead the press conference instead.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will reportedly skip the team’s scheduled pre-NFL draft press conference at 2:00 p.m. ET on Monday, April 13, amid the ongoing drama involving NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Vrabel and Russini were photographed holding hands and hugging at an adults-only resort in Arizona, which led to Russini being sidelined by The Athletic during an internal investigation.
Last year, Vrabel answered questions from the media at the pre-draft presser.
MORE: Dianna Russini under internal investigation after Mike Vrabel photo leak
According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Patriots V.P. of player personnel Eliot Wolf will lead the press conference in Vrabel’s absence.
“Vrabel — who has been in the news this week, as the Athletic is reinvestigating the coverage of NFL reporter Dianna Russini and the nature of her relationship with him, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN — isn’t expected to address reporters until the draft,” Reis wrote.
Vrabel and Russini initially said that the photos displayed a platonic friendship, with Russini suggesting she was on a girls’ trip. The Athletic, however, is searching for more answers.
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We’ll have to see whether Vrabel or Russini responds to the internal investigation leading up to or before the upcoming draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.
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Q&A
Why is Mike Vrabel skipping the Patriots' pre-NFL Draft press conference?
Mike Vrabel is skipping the press conference amid ongoing drama involving NFL insider Dianna Russini, who is currently under investigation.
What happened between Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini?
Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini were photographed together at a resort, which has led to Russini being sidelined by The Athletic during an internal investigation.
Who will lead the Patriots' press conference in Mike Vrabel's absence?
Eliot Wolf, the Patriots' V.P. of player personnel, will lead the press conference while Mike Vrabel is absent.
