Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In their review of Dianna Russini’s past comments and conduct, NFL fans have discovered some of her reporting on Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby that they believe constitutes tampering. Russini was pushing a narrative that Crosby wanted to play for Mike Vrabel.
Dianna Russini — who resigned from The Athletic last week amid an internal ethics investigation following photos of her holding hands with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel at an adults-only Arizona resort — has now been accused of potential tampering.
NFL fans calling for Dianna Russini to be investigated for tampering with Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby
Earlier this year, Russini reported that Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby told her he wants to play for Vrabel in New England. Raiders sources have since disputed the report, saying Crosby never said it and that people around the team actively avoid Russini due to concerns about her reliability as a reporter.
The Eagles and Raiders need to demand a tampering investigation this is insane https://t.co/ooXHBPNOnr pic.twitter.com/wcFl97sAs0
— Joe Pezz🇵🇷🦅 (@joepezz_) April 21, 2026
Dianna Russini during the NFL Combine reported that Maxx Crosby told her he wanted to play for Mike Vrabel.
“I can tell you, I know he wants to play for Mike Vrabel. He’s told me before.”
My source tells me Maxx never said that & Crosby’s team tries to avoid her because “she…
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) April 8, 2026
While the NFL declined to investigate Vrabel under its personal conduct policy after the resort photos surfaced, whether the league takes a different posture toward a potential competitive integrity issue — tampering touches directly on the playing field in a way that the personal conduct question doesn’t — remains to be seen.
Earlier this week, Vrabel addressed the media for the first time about the situation and said he’s had to have some “difficult conversations.”
“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about about — with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players. Those have been positive and productive. In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,” Vrabel said.
Vrabel and the Patriots will be back in the public eye tomorrow night at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, where they will be making the 31st overall pick in the first round.