Vrabel, Russini face scrutiny over Page Six photos that appear to show kiss
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Photo: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe
Photos published by Page Six appear to show Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and journalist Dianna Russini kiss in 2020.
Why it matters: The scandal raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and professional boundaries in NFL coverage.
Catch up quick: A Page Six story earlier this month showed Russini and Vrabel holding hands and hugging at an adults-only luxury resort in Arizona.
- Vrabel and Russini, who are both married to other people, said they were at the hotel separately with friends and denied any inappropriate behavior.
- The Athletic and its parent company The New York Times, initially defended Russini but has since launched its own investigation.
- Russini resigned April 14 amid the investigation, ESPN reported.
The latest: Page Six reported that Vrabel and Russini sat close to each other at the Tribeca Tavern in the early hours of March 11, 2020.
- One of the photos appears to show Vrabel and Russini at the bar, while another is a blurry photo of what appears to be a kiss.
- The story dropped hours after Vrabel, who called the initial Post story laughable, announced plans to skip the third day of the NFL Draft for counseling.
- "As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them," he said, per NBC News.
- The Patriots did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment about the photos.
Zoom out: The scandal has set off debate over journalism ethics, which warn against conflicts of interests and blurring the boundaries between journalists and their sources.
Yes, but: The Boston Globe's Ben Volin said the scandal also reveals a double standard — not with Vrabel, but with men who cover the league as "NFL insiders" and have their own cozy relationships alongside Russini.
- Volin acknowledged the publication's own conflict as its owner, John Henry, also owns the Red Sox.
