Mike Vrabel apparently has the overwhelming support of New England Patriots fans amid his ongoing photo scandal with sports journalist Dianna Russini.
Vrabel, 50, attended a ticketholder fan event on Wednesday, April 29, where he was greeted with a rousing standing ovation, per social media footage.
Vrabel returned to work earlier this week after seeking counseling amid the scandal.
“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,” the Patriots head coach said in an April 22 statement. “In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. “This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”
He continued, “I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
Vrabel and Russini, 43, have been spotted in multiple photos together from 2020 to earlier this year, raising eyebrows about their relationship status. (Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people, with whom they share children.)
“That’s a personal and private matter,” Vrabel said during an April 23 press conference, addressing the scandal. “I think that was an attempt to protect your family and I would never be dismissive. I think my family and this football team are the most important thing … I’m excited about the challenge with both of those things.”
Russini, who has also downplayed her relationship with Vrabel, has since resigned from her position covering football for The Athletic.
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“This media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete,” she wrote in a letter earlier this month. “It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept.”
She continued, “Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Neither Vrabel nor Russini mentioned one another by name in their respective statements.
