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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be attending the upcoming NFL predraft press conference.
Earlier this week, Vrabel found himself in a firestorm when he was photographed at an adults-only resort with NY Times NFL reporter Dianna Russini.
Both Vrabel and Russini said the pictures were taken out of context, and that they were “innocent.”
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”
“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.” said Russini “Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues.”
On Friday, The Athletic, owned by the NY Times, revealed that it had opened an investigation into Russini’s ethical conduct.
Via NY Times
The Athletic is investigating the conduct of a senior N.F.L. reporter, Dianna Russini, after the publication of photographs that showed her with Mike Vrabel, the head coach for the New England Patriots, according to a person familiar with the inquiry.
The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require that their journalists avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict, so as not to call into question their credibility. The Athletic is owned by The New York Times Company.
On Monday, Vrabel was set to speak at the Patriots’ pre-draft press conference, but has since pulled out of his planned appearance.
Via ESPN
Vrabel — who has been in the news this week, as the Athletic is reinvestigating the coverage of NFL reporter Dianna Russini and the nature of her relationship with him, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN — isn’t expected to address reporters until the draft.
Vrabel, who conducted the team’s pre-draft press conference last year, will be replaced by V .P. of player personnel Eliot Wolf this year.