Dianna Russini has strong response to The Athletics investigation into alleged noncompliant affair

Dianna Russini isn’t changing her tune even after being labeled “noncompliant.”Russini, a former reporter for The Athletic who quit after the reveal of an alleged affair with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, defended herself after her former company published Thursday the results of its multi-month investigation into her reporting and the potential effect of the purported relationship.“I stand by any and all reporting I’ve ever done in my career,” Russini told The Athletic.Vrabel, meanwhile, pulled a page out of the Bill Belichick playbook when asked about the findings, with The Athletic labeling the pair’s alleged affair a “clear violation” of its standards.“No, I don’t have any reaction to that,” Vrabel said Thursday.“We’re moved on and focused on Seattle and focused on the Patriots and focused on getting better this week.”If you’re having flashbacks to “We’re onto Cincinnati,” the famous Belichick quote, you’re not the only one after Vrabel sidestepped that question like a quarterback evading a pass rusher.He also wanted nothing to do with a follow-up question about if he views the situation is “fully behind” him.“Try to just say that I’ve moved on and excited about this new opportunity here as we start this season,” he said during a press conference.On April 7, Page Six exclusively published photos of the two — who each are married with children — holding hands and interacting with one another at a resort in Arizona.She initially defended the photos to Page Six.“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day,” she said.

“Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”As more instances of the pair seeming friendly with one another emerged, Russini quit the company in April and yet again maintained innocence in a resignation letter.“I have come to this decision with deep sadness but with clarity about what is...