Vrabel must feel he's not only survived but surmounted the ongoing nature of the saga because, well, the thing is not a public topic now as his team gets ready for its first practice on Saturday.PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL BREAKS SILENCE ON DIANNA RUSSINI PHOTOS THAT LED TO 'DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS'Vrabel, in his second year as the Patriots coach, met with reporters for more than 14 minutes on Friday to kick off the start of camp.Mike Vrabel head coach of the New England Patriots directs his players during training camp at Gillette Stadium on July 28, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.(Winslow Townson/Getty Images)And he fielded not one question about the Russini scandal or anything connected to it.It was all football – which Vrabel deftly handles like Ted Williams did fastballs back in the day.Vrabel was asked about the status of second-round draft pick Gabe Jacas, who remains unsigned.
Reporters indeed concentrated six of their 20 or so questions to Vrabel on the Jacas topic.How's the contract negotiations?How's his health?Football stuff.But, again, nothing about the coach and the overriding issue he faced starting April 7 when the New York Post published photographs of him and Russini, then working for The Athletic, enjoying private time at a pool, and in a hot tub, and holding hands and embracing at an Arizona resort before the NFL annual meeting.Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, via Getty.(Getty)Those photos kicked off consistent national coverage that sometimes bordered on cringey – including other photos of the pair at a bar or other events while their spouses were not present.
They also predictably led to something of a crisis within the Vrabel family.Vrabel, in fact, removed himself from the final day of the NFL draft so that he could be with his family and said he was taking time to seek counseling.But on Friday, nobody asked if the counseling sessions are over or continue.One would think that if a Super Bowl contender's coach is in counseling, which he...