Mike Vrabel untouched by Dianna Russini scandal at first press conference of Patriots training camp

The play that shadowed coach Mike Vrabel during nan offseason owed to his narration pinch NFL newsman Dianna Russini was obscurity to beryllium seen Friday erstwhile New England Patriots players reported for training camp.

Vrabel must consciousness he's not only survived but surmounted nan ongoing quality of nan saga because, well, nan point is not a nationalist taxable now arsenic his squad gets fresh for its first believe connected Saturday.

PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL BREAKS SILENCE ON DIANNA RUSSINI PHOTOS THAT LED TO 'DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS'

Vrabel, successful his 2nd twelvemonth arsenic nan Patriots coach, met pinch reporters for much than 14 minutes connected Friday to footwear disconnected nan commencement of camp.

Mike Vrabel caput coach of nan New England Patriots directs his players during training campy astatine Gillette Stadium connected July 28, 2025 successful Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

And he fielded not 1 mobility astir nan Russini ungraded aliases thing connected to it.

It was each football – which Vrabel deftly handles for illustration Ted Williams did fastballs backmost successful nan day.

Vrabel was asked astir nan position of second-round draught prime Gabe Jacas, who remains unsigned. Reporters so concentrated six of their 20 aliases truthful questions to Vrabel connected nan Jacas topic.

How's nan statement negotiations?

How's his health?

Football stuff.

But, again, thing astir nan coach and nan overriding rumor he faced starting April 7 erstwhile nan New York Post published photographs of him and Russini, past moving for The Athletic, enjoying backstage clip astatine a pool, and successful a basking tub, and holding hands and embracing astatine an Arizona edifice earlier the NFL yearly meeting.

Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini, via Getty. (Getty)

Those photos kicked disconnected accordant nationalist sum that sometimes bordered connected cringey – including different photos of nan brace astatine a barroom aliases different events while their spouses were not present. They besides predictably led to thing of a situation wrong nan Vrabel family.

Vrabel, successful fact, removed himself from nan last time of nan NFL draught truthful that he could beryllium pinch his family and said he was taking clip to activity counseling.

But connected Friday, cipher asked if nan counseling sessions are complete aliases continue.

One would deliberation that if a Super Bowl contender's coach is successful counseling, which he made public, personification mightiness wonderment if nan sessions proceed during a hectic training camp.

Or perchance bleed into nan season.

Somebody mightiness want to cognize if Vrabel thinks nan counseling succeeded. Or failed. Like, what has changed for Vrabel arsenic a consequence of those sessions he truthful publically announced he was astir to undergo?

There was nary mobility to Vrabel astatine nan podium astir immoderate of that aliases thing other having to do pinch nan Russini saga.

We already cognize Vrabel isn't going to beryllium fired, aliases moreover disciplined, for being portion of nan embarrassment and unwanted attraction he brought connected himself, nan Patriots, and nan NFL arsenic a consequence of this story.

New England Patriots caput coach Mike Vrabel stands connected nan section earlier nan 2026 AFC Championship Game astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High successful Denver, Colo., connected Jan. 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

But Friday's presser sealed nan truth Vrabel has successfully avoided a awesome distraction to commencement training camp.

That really is his first triumph of nan season.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Russini, meanwhile, has intelligibly lost. She resigned from her occupation astatine The Athletic and nan media institution has apparently replaced her pinch a caller alleged insider. She remains astatine nan bosom of an soul investigation by nan New York Times, which owns The Athletic, pinch nan results of that not yet published.

So barring much facts coming to light, specified arsenic nan publication of nan investigation, Vrabel skates. If he didn't get asked astir his counseling sessions and family position connected Friday, nan chances that happens going guardant shrink daily.

So, yes, Vrabel is 1-0 already to footwear disconnected training camp.

Follow Armando Salguero connected X: @ArmandoSalguero