Dianna Russini bragged about using NFL coach to get out of ticket

Former NFL insider Dianna Russini was back in the spotlight this week after a New York Times article highlighted an incident when she was pulled over by police in January for texting and driving and called an NFL coach to help get her out of a ticket.Russini — who resigned from The Athletic after her and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s photo scandal broke in April — is currently under review by her former employer to determine if her reporting was influenced by her relationship with Vrabel.During a February appearance on the “Stugotz and Company” podcast, Russini recalled “making a nasty play” by using her NFL connections to help her get out of a ticket — adding that it was the second time in a month she was pulled over with her kids in the car.Russini explained that she told the officer she was on her phone because the coach of the Buffalo Bills at the time, Sean McDermott, had been fired, and she was trying to break news.She said the officer was unfazed by the news because he wasn’t a Bills fan.“So he names the team [that he is a fan of] and I go, ‘Oh, I love that team.

Do you want to talk to the coach? You should talk to the coach,'” Russini said.She then FaceTimed the coach and claimed that he “played all into it,” telling the officer that “you should let her go, she’s a good citizen.'”Russini added that she was “desperate” in the moment because “I don’t want to get a ticket.

My husband is going to kill me.“I’m texting and driving.I shouldn’t be doing that I know that … I [called] a coach to get out of a ticket.

Like what a nasty play but it worked.”The Times, which owns The Athletic, reported that Russini’s annual salary was close to $800,000, according to a former manager who had knowledge of her salary negotiation. Vrabel was not the coach on the FaceTime call with Russini when she was pulled over, according to someone with whom she shared the details of the story.Russini’s storytelling on the po...