The Patriots should be better at crisis management by now

The Bill Belichick era in New England might be over... but the Patriots are still cheaters.

*ba dum tss*

OK, so maybe Mike Vrabel hasn’t actually confessed to anything, but we can read between the lines. Everything he hasn’t said this week is speaking loudest.

First, there was that useless press conference Tuesday where he didn’t directly address the photos of him and Dianna Russini (or even mention her name at all). Someone unfamiliar with that situation wouldn’t even have a clue what he was talking about.

He didn’t take accountability for anything, nor did he attempt to clear up any misconceptions about what happened. Notably, he didn’t even fall back on his original statement that the photos were a “completely innocent interaction.”

He only offered that it was a “personal and private matter” and that he had some “difficult conversations with people I care about.” Which said more than enough.

It was a cowardly half-confession that only served the purpose of allowing the Patriots to say they addressed it before flipping the page to this week’s NFL draft. The implications left Russini as collateral damage following her resignation from The Athletic last week.

For some reason, though, Vrabel decided to roll over Russini with the bus he threw her under by announcing Wednesday he’s seeking counseling this weekend and won’t be with the team for the third day of the draft. Which seemed completely unnecessary.

Not the counseling — that might be necessary. But the announcement and timing of it.

“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be,” Vrabel said. “This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person.”

I’ve never seen someone slow-leak a confession quite like this. Wouldn't it have been more effective to simply issue a public apology from the jump, then seek counseling privately?