Mike Vrabel spoke to reporters for the first time since Page Six obtained a photo of the New England Patriots head coach and NFL reporter Deanna Russini holding hands and hugging each other at an Arizona resort.
The 50-year-old admitted to having “difficult conversations” with his family Tuesday during a pre-NFL Draft press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., according to a video shared by WBZ Boston.
He did not elaborate further, calling the meeting “positive and productive.”
Vrabel thanked journalists for their “patience” before broaching a “personal and personal matter.”
“I know I could have talked to you sooner, but I spoke very openly yesterday because it was important to me to have the conversation with the players. I look forward to everyone participating as we begin our offseason program,” he began.
“We don’t want to take (attention) away from the draft,” Vrabel said, adding, “This is an important time for us. (These players) are starting a great journey and we should celebrate as we bring them to our team.”
After citing “difficult conversations” with people he “cares about” including “family, organization, coaches (and) players,” Vrabel said, “We believe that to be successful on and off the field, you have to make the right decisions. And that includes me. It starts with me.”
“We never want our actions to have a negative impact on the team. We never want to be a distraction. There are comments and questions that I have answered for and with the team, but we will keep them private and to ourselves.”
“I care deeply about this soccer team and am excited to coach them,” continued Vrabel, who has two sons with his wife, Jen. “I also know that we will attack every day with humility and focus.”
“What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, this team, the staff, the coaches, and most importantly, the fans, will give me the best going forward,” he concluded. “That’s something I know and I’m excited to do.”
Notably, Vrabel was absent from last week’s pre-draft press conference amid all the headlines about him and Russini.
However, an NFL team spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Vrabel was not scheduled to attend, and that Patriots executive Elliott Wolf was always scheduled to lead the press corps on April 13th.
Asked about Vrabel’s involvement with the team amid the Russini drama, Wolff replied:
“He’s been with us a little bit more than last year,” he added. “He’s contributed. He’s watched a lot of players.”
Wolf’s comments come nearly a week after Page Six published photos of Vrabel and Russini, 43, at the Ambiente, an upscale luxury hotel in Sedona, Arizona.
After a snapshot taken on March 28 went viral, Vrabel and Russini downplayed the situation.
“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” the married father of two told Page Six on April 7. “There is no better response to this.”
As for Russini, who is married and has two children, he said, “The photo does not represent a group of six people hanging out during the day. Like most NFL journalists, the reporter interacts with sources away from the stadium and other venues.”
However, three witnesses told Page Six that no one else was with the two men.
Three days later, news broke that The Athletic had dropped Russini and launched an investigation into the matter.
Russini announced his resignation from the prominent digital sports media company on April 14th.
“Rather than allow this situation to continue, I have decided to step down before my current contract expires on June 30th,” she wrote in her resignation letter obtained by Page Six.
“I do so not because I accept the narrative built around this episode, but because I refuse to give it further oxygen or let it define me or my career,” Russini added.
Stephen Ginsburg, editor-in-chief of The Athletic, subsequently confirmed that Russini had left the magazine.
“I am writing to inform you that Deanna Russini has submitted her resignation from The Athletic, effective immediately,” he wrote in a memo obtained by Page Six.
“As more information came to light, new questions arose and became part of our investigation,” Russini’s former boss added. “While an investigation into Ms. Deanna’s conduct was ongoing, she has chosen to resign.”
