Patriots players address ongoing Vrabel, Russini controversy

For probably the most half, New England Patriots gamers had been in a position to keep away from publicly talking in regards to the ongoing controversy involving head coach Mike Vrabel and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

That modified on Tuesday when Patriots tight finish Hunter Henry and linebacker Robert Spillane have been made accessible to media members. 

Hunter Henry declined to share what Mike Vrabel mentioned to Patriots gamers amid Dianna Russini controversy

Whereas addressing the workforce behind the scenes forward of the 2026 NFL Draft, Vrabel reportedly apologized “for bringing undesirable consideration” and in addition “promised that he’d make it proper and do all he may to place the main target again on the gamers.” On Tuesday, Henry insisted that Vrabel “did an awesome job” in that exact second. 

“It’s been the identical Vrabes, bringing lots of power within the room, so, yeah, clearly, he addressed it. And, that’s all I’ll say about it,” Henry added about Vrabel’s message on April 20, per Karen Guregian of MassLive.

Russini resigned
from her position of overlaying the NFL for The Athletic not lengthy after pictures surfaced exhibiting her and Vrabel spending time collectively at an Arizona resort in late March. Final week, new pictures emerged exhibiting Vrabel and Russini sharing a kiss and “sitting very shut to one another” at a New York Metropolis bar in March 2020. 

Vrabel spent the ultimate day of the draft away from the Patriots in order that he reportedly may take part in counseling. He returned to work on Monday.

“Coach coaches soccer,” Spillane mentioned. “[Vrabel] retains the principle factor the principle factor. I do know he’s coping with private points. However once we’re within the constructing, we communicate soccer.” 

Will Mike Vrabel controversy impression his relationships along with his gamers?

Spillane was requested if the story that continues to hover over the Patriots all through this spring is impacting Vrabel’s relationships with New England gamers or his potential to function a pacesetter for a workforce that’s coming off a troublesome Tremendous Bowl loss. 

“I believe everybody’s private relationship with coach is their private relationship with coach,” Spillane responded. “That’s not for me to talk on. I like coach, and I’m going to be right here to assist him as he could be there to assist me for something.”

Lower than an hour earlier than the draft obtained underway, Vrabel suggested he may miss extra than simply sooner or later of labor if he feels his “household wants” him. It stays unclear if he has another absences deliberate as of the ultimate Tuesday of April. 

“I do know you guys need to hear about all the pieces that’s occurring,” Henry acknowledged whereas fastidiously touching upon the Vrabel-related topic. “To be sincere with you, I’m simply centered on what we obtained occurring proper now on this constructing with this workforce. Clearly, we had an extended season final 12 months. A fast turnaround into the offseason, and we’re in a brand new constructing. And yearly’s a brand new 12 months. We’re making an attempt to construct this workforce, we’re making an attempt to come back collectively. So I’m simply centered on the blokes on this locker room and making an attempt to construct it up once more. We’ve obtained an extended journey forward of us. We’ve obtained to begin someplace. So we’re beginning proper now.”

Tuesday was solely the start because it pertains to New England gamers being requested questions on a subject they probably shall be reluctant to talk about over the subsequent handful of days, weeks and months.