New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will not be with the team for Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday, following the release of photos of the coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort recently.
More photos emerged on page six Thursday when Vrabel and Russini reportedly kissed in a bar years ago.
“As I said recently, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I would give them the best version of me I could possibly give them. To do this, I committed to seeking counseling starting this weekend,” Vrabel told ESPN on Wednesday night. “This is something I have thought about a lot and it is something I would advise a player to do if I were advising him.
“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I need to do to be the best husband, father and coach I can be. This is not easy for me to admit, but it is something I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
The Patriots confirmed that Vrabel will miss the third day of the draft.
Justin Casterline via Getty Images
The photos of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began March 29 in Phoenix, according to the New York Post, which published the photos this month.
The NFL announced last weekend that it would not investigate Vrabel’s behavior.
Vrabel first addressed the issue on Tuesday, telling reporters that he “ difficult conversations with people I care about.”
Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the story’s publication downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week later, after the Post’s report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times sporting goods store.
Vrabel said he addressed players about the issue on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary training program. Two Patriots players were scheduled to be made available to reporters on Tuesday, but Vrabel said he wanted to speak before they did. He also said he didn’t want interest in the Post photos to distract from the NFL draft, which starts Thursday.
HuffPost contributed to this report.
