The Vrabel Situation Was No Surprise At ESPN – Who Else Knew?

By Steve Atkinson 

I can confirm that the situation involving Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini was no surprise to people at  ESPN  when it surfaced. I’m not sure if Vrabel was the only coach involved with Russini.  However, I can confirm ESPN knew about the affair.  That explains their quiet coverage and the distraction of the AJ Brown to the Patriots’ story. I don’t know who at ESPN was aware, but it seems like the entire company was advised not to cover it extensively. Even First Take mentioned they preferred not to discuss it. What does that tell you?

This explains the PR mess for the Patriots and The Athletic. If ESPN insiders knew, doesn’t that mean The Athletic knew too? I can’t confirm whether they did, but it’s plausible she resigned to find another job rather than being fired by The Athletic. In my view, their investigation appeared to be just a PR stunt, and there was likely no real investigation.

The NFL and ESPN Want The Vrabel Situation To Go Away

I believe Russini knows a lot more than she lets on. Reporters and insiders will do anything to get a story, which suggests she’s aware of what others have done to gather tips or stories. She obviously crossed a line, which might be why ESPN stayed silent and why other reporters refuse to discuss it, instead focusing on the AJ Brown-to-the-Patriots story as a smokescreen, which is probably already played out. I’ve heard there’s more information that hasn’t surfaced yet, though I don’t know what exactly. It seems like the New York Post and Page Six have stirred up a hornet’s nest that major outlets like ESPN are desperate to silence.

ESPN buried the story on its website on a Friday afternoon, and then Adam Schefter reported that AJ Brown was heading to the Patriots the following Monday. Even during Jay Glazer’s party at the owners’ meetings, reports indicated Russini and Vrabel were hosting a separate gathering. Other NFL coaches at Glazer’s event weren’t surprised to see Russini and Vrabel having their own party across the way.  In fact, they knew as well. That pretty much confirms my belief that many at ESPN knew about it and simply looked the other way.

The following is from Pablo Torre

Two sources with direct knowledge of this have confirmed it to me,” Torre said. “So that pool, where Jay Glazer was hosting all of those NFL head coaches and others. Across the way of that same pool was Diana Russini and Mike Vrabel. And what she was doing, I am told, was effectively trying to host a rival Office Christmas party… It was Diane Russini. It was Mike Vrabel, among the cabanas, and a few other head coaches.” All of these head coaches across the pool and their wives, I am told, started talking about Vrabel and Russini. And this was before — days before the photos broke in the New York Post which is to say also, a thing I found out, is that their friendship was not breaking news to the people at the NFL owners meetings. They all knew that, in fact, they were out front together at this other competing, aspirational party,” Torre added.

Sounds like because Vrabel didn’t have a relationship with someone who works for the Patriots, the NFL won’t do anything. Yes, it was with a reporter, but the reporter also means ratings and money, which the NFL loves. So sounds like because it wasn’t someone from the team.  The NFL won’t look into it and just say it’s a personal issue. The Patriots better get off to a good start.