Vrabel, Russini face scrutiny over Page Six photos that appear to show kiss
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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.