Still laughing, Mike Vrabel? Patriots coach torches credibility as scandal grows | Opinion

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TL;DR

Mike Vrabel faces growing scrutiny over his interactions with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini, as new photos emerge. The scandal escalates following images of the two together at a luxury resort and a bar in New York.

Key points

Mike Vrabel is under scrutiny for interactions with Dianna Russini.
Photos of them together were published by The New York Post.
The images include a luxury resort in Sedona and a bar in New York.
Vrabel called the allegations laughable and innocent.

Mentioned in this story

Mike VrabelDianna RussiniNew England PatriotsThe AthleticThe New York Post

Who’s that laughing now, Mike Vrabel?

Like millions, dude, laughing at you as the scandal involving your interactions with Dianna Russini, former NFL reporter for The Athletic, seemingly gets more salacious by the hour.

What a pitiful saga.

When the initial bombshell dropped with The New York Post publishing photographs of Vrabel and Russini, captured so cozy at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona, before the NFL owners meeting in late March, the New England Patriots coach harumphed that any suggestion the pictures reflected more than an innocent interaction were “laughable.”

Then came another wave. And another. The latest photo drop by The Post, hours before the NFL draft began on Thursday, captured the two purportedly canoodling at a bar in New York – in 2020!

Now Vrabel is stepping away, for therapy and time with his family.

At the half-empty “news conference” staged on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium, someone asked Vrabel to explain how this progressed from “laughable” to a need for counseling. He had the nerve to trumpet the family theme in trying to explain away his initial statement.

“That’s a private, personal matter,” Vrabel said. “I don’t think that those comments…I think that was always an attempt to protect your family and I would never be dismissive.”

Yeah, right. “Dismissive” perfectly describes that first statement – which was hardly comical.

More: Vrabel-Russini timeline: Patriots coach steps away from final day of NFL draft

Now Vrabel is selling a different explanation, maintaining, “My previous actions don’t meet the standard that I hold myself to.”

What actions? Well, that’s personal and private.

Mike Vrabel press conference offers little clarity on absense

As I watched the NFL’s reigning Coach of the Year stumble along during his 7-minute session, talking about accountability and not wanting to be a distraction, I was not convinced that he wasn’t more sorry about getting caught engaging in “private” situations in “public” settings. Whatever may have happened between Vrabel and Russini – who, like Vrabel, is married to another person – is not public knowledge.

Yet Vrabel missing Day 3 of the NFL draft to spend time with his family is very public knowledge now. I’m guessing the getaway won’t happen in Sedona.

Q&A

What scandal is Mike Vrabel involved in?

Mike Vrabel is involved in a scandal regarding his interactions with former NFL reporter Dianna Russini, which includes revealing photographs of them together.

What did the photos of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini show?

The photos show Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini appearing cozy at a luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona, and later canoodling at a bar in New York.

How has Mike Vrabel responded to the allegations?

Mike Vrabel dismissed initial allegations as 'laughable,' claiming the interactions were innocent.

When did the photos of Vrabel and Russini first emerge?

The initial photos of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini were published by The New York Post shortly before the NFL owners meeting in late March.