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Patriots Insiders Say Mike Vrabel Is Going To Have To Address The Team About Dianna Russini Or Risks Losing The Locker Room

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While most of the attention has been paid to Dianna Russini following the publication of scandalous photos of her and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, that does not mean Vrabel is going to emerge unscathed. Insiders are already reporting, in fact, that he’s going to have to own up to his team, or he risks losing the locker room.

Dianna Russini resigned from The Athletic on Tuesday, April 14, just one week after Page Six published photos of her and Mike Vrabel — both married — holding hands, hugging, and sharing a hot tub at the Ambiente Sedona resort in Arizona. The Athletic confirmed the resignation and said its review of Russini’s conduct will continue despite her departure.

NFL insiders say Mike Vrabel is going to have to address the New England Patriots locker room or he risks losing the team’s loyalty

As for Vrabel — who bailed on the Pats’ pre-draft press conference earlier this week in order to avoid answering questions about the seemingly illicit relationship — NFL insider Albert Breer believes he’s going to have to come clean to the locker room personally rather than through a rigid statement.

“In every meeting room in that building they have a sign that says ‘make good decisions on and off the field.’ You live by what your credo is. I think it becomes a credibility issue with the players. If you’re preaching accountability 365 days a year to a group of 24,25,26 year olds…and if you’re not addressing it at all and you’re pretending like nothing happened…they’re gonna look at you sideways,” Breer reported.

“I talked to a former (Patriots) player and he said ‘The hell they won’t want answers. You think Mike Vrabel can just brush this under the rug without talking to the players? Coaching don’t treat us like they treat the media.’ I think Vrabel will have to say something to his team…I think he’s gonna have to answer to something that’s been in the news for a while…for his credibility he’s gonna have to say something to the team,” added longtime Boston-based reporter Michael Holey.

Luckily for Vrabel, if there was one NFL franchise that’s willing to permit illicit behavior from its higher ups, it’s the New England Patriots.