Patriots Captains Close Ranks Around Vrabel Amid Russini Scandal: 'We Speak Football'

The New England Patriots walked into their Tuesday media availability carrying more than just draft notes and depth chart questions. Hovering over everything was the story that has trailed head coach Mike Vrabel since April — his photographed relationship with former reporter Dianna Russini — and the team's captains were ready for it.

Tight end Hunter Henry, one of the team's designated leaders, didn't pretend the questions weren't coming. He acknowledged the situation plainly, then drew a line around it. "I'm focused on what we got going on right now in this building with this team," he told reporters. He said he's trying to build things "from the ground up" with the guys in the locker room, and that was about as far as he was willing to go.

Linebacker Robert Spillane was equally measured. His framing was almost philosophical: "Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing the main thing." Spillane acknowledged that Vrabel is dealing with personal difficulties, but said that inside the building, the language is football and nothing else. He added that he'd be there to support his coach — and that he believed Vrabel would do the same for him.

The controversy itself has been unfolding in layers since April. Vrabel and Russini, who was then working for The Athletic, were photographed together at a private luxury resort in Sedona, Arizona — sunbathing, sharing a hot tub, holding hands on the roof of a bungalow. The images triggered an internal investigation at The Athletic, and Russini resigned. Then the New York Post published photographs from March 2020 showing the two kissing at a New York City bar in the early morning hours. In those pictures, Vrabel's wedding ring is visible. At the time, he was coaching the Tennessee Titans and Russini was at ESPN. An eyewitness told the Post: "He had a ring on."

The timeline carries its own weight. Russini married Kevin Goldschmidt, a Shake Shack executive, roughly six months after those 2020 photos were taken. The couple has two children. Vrabel has been married to his wife Jen since 1999, and they have two sons together.

Vrabel addressed the situation publicly before the draft, acknowledging he'd had "some difficult conversations with people that I care about." The Patriots organization issued a statement of support ahead of the first round, saying they "fully support" their coach and that he had been open with them about his commitment to being the best version of himself — for his family, the team, and the fans.

That commitment took a concrete form during the draft itself. Vrabel was present for the first two days, but stepped away from the team during rounds four through seven on Saturday to begin counseling. In a statement, he said he had given the decision considerable thought and that it was the same advice he would give a player in a similar situation.

Henry, for his part, said Vrabel handled the public moment well. "It's been the same Vrabes bringing a lot of energy in the room," he said, adding that Vrabel addressed it and that was what he'd say about it.

Vrabel has since returned to the facility as the Patriots continue their offseason program. Rookie minicamp is scheduled for May 8 through 10. The team is coming off a Super Bowl loss and is trying to build toward something. Whether the media noise around their coach fades or intensifies as the calendar turns toward training camp is the question that will shadow everything between now and then.