New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will skip the third day of the NFL draft this Saturday and has committed to seeking counseling, he announced Wednesday night, following published photos of him and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini together at an Arizona resort.
In a statement to ESPN, Vrabel framed the decision as part of a broader effort to show up as his best self for his family, organization, and team. He described counseling as something he would recommend to players and said he wants to lead by example as a husband, father, and coach.
"I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be," Vrabel said. "This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person."
The photos were taken before the NFL's annual Phoenix meetings in late March and were published this month by the New York Post. Both Vrabel and Russini are married. In initial written responses to the Post, they downplayed what the images showed.
The NFL announced it would not open an investigation into Vrabel's conduct.
Russini, a longtime reporter covering the league, resigned from The Athletic less than a week after the Post's story surfaced, following an internal investigation at the New York Times-owned outlet.
Vrabel addressed the controversy with his players on Monday when voluntary workouts began, deciding to speak before making any public comments. He acknowledged he has had "difficult conversations with people I care about." He also noted his concern that the attention around the photos could overshadow the start of the draft Thursday.
Author James Rodriguez: "Vrabel's preemptive counseling announcement is smart damage control, but whether words match actions will matter far more to his locker room than a weekend in therapy."
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