Final yr, first-year New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel participated within the staff’s pre-draft press convention.
Coaches are usually not required to take part in these media availabilities, however the Patriots made Vrabel obtainable to reporters to ask questions on New England’s draft plans.
This yr, Vrabel gained’t be taking part within the press convention, leaving Patriots govt vp and de facto normal supervisor Eliot Wolf to deal with Monday’s assembly with reporters.
After all, Vrabel’s absence from this press convention will heighten hypothesis concerning the viral photos with The Athletic’s insider Dianna Russini, who has been shelved whereas the corporate investigates any potential wrongdoing.
Vrabel and Russini have been photographed interlocking fingers and sitting in a pool at a luxurious resort in Sedona, Arizona earlier than the annual league conferences just a few weeks in the past. The photographs have been shopped round and finally offered to The New York Publish’s Web page Six column. Instantly after, Vrabel and Russini launched statements, explaining they have been with different folks.
“The photographs don’t signify the group of six individuals who have been hanging out throughout the day,” Russini mentioned.
However since Russini gained’t be reporting for The Athletic throughout their investigation, one thing about this story feels a bit fishy. Maybe one thing nefarious was happening?
“An preliminary evaluation instructed the pictures offered lacked context, particularly the presence of a bigger group of pals,” a supply instructed NBC.
New particulars from the report “and knowledge from the investigation raised further considerations that at the moment are being additional reviewed.”
Vrabel gained’t be the one answering for it – that’s for positive.
After all, there’s no assure that an precise reporter would waste a query on these photos, as there are many different inquiries to be requested about draft prospects, the staff’s reported curiosity in Philadelphia Eagles vast receiver A.J. Brown, and so forth. If a query have been to be requested, Vrabel may at all times reference his preliminary assertion, which was fairly blunt.
“These photographs present a totally harmless interplay and any suggestion in any other case is laughable,” Vrabel mentioned in his unique assertion. “This doesn’t deserve any additional response.”
Whereas Russini may face penalties along with her employer no matter no matter occurred, Vrabel isn’t more likely to be liable to something – at the least not professionally. After main the Patriots to the Tremendous Bowl, he’s been extensively considered one of many prime coaches within the NFL.
Sadly for these people who’re obsessive about this story, no new info or particulars will emerge when the Patriots collect to debate their NFL Draft plans with reporters – until someone dares to ask Wolf a query about it.
