Mike Vrabel considered defending Dianna Russini after photo scandal

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reportedly wanted to issue a formal defense of NFL insider Dianna Russini following the public release of photos showing the pair at an Arizona resort in April. While Vrabel initially opted to downplay the interaction as innocent, internal reports suggest he sought to support her professional ethics. Russini resigned from The Athletic in April as the outlet began an investigation into her connection with Vrabel. An official review released by the organization on September 3 determined that her association with the coach breached the company’s standards and posed a risk to its credibility. The NFL confirmed in April that Vrabel faced no disciplinary action under the league’s personal conduct policy. Vrabel remains the head coach of the Patriots, while Russini has since left the publication.

• 2:52 PMYahoo Sports — How Mike Vrabel Wanted to Defend Dianna Russini After Fallout from Photo Scandal: Report