Mike Vrabel addressed Dianna Russini saga with Patriots players differently than he did with reporters

OutKick's own Armando Salguero breaks down Mike Vrabel's first public presser on the Dianna Russini controversy. There was NO denial, and is this Vrabel's last time talking about it?

Before Mike Vrabel made his first public statement about the Dianna Russini saga in front of some reporters on Tuesday, he addressed it privately with club ownership earlier and with his players on Monday.

And the message was predictably different.

His discussion with reporters – both at a podium and later as they huddled around when he sat in a chair – did not include any explanation of what actually happened or didn't between him and the NFL reporter for The Athletic. It also didn't include any apology to, well, anyone.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Ariz., on March 31, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

Vrabel’s talk with players was more candid.

He addressed the issue in the first team meeting of the offseason conditioning program "from the jump," one player who was present texted OutKick.

And Vrabel indeed did apologize to them – or at least it felt that way to this player – for the unwanted attention the issue has brought on the team at a time he wants all the attention on the players working to get better and the ones about to be selected in the NFL Draft this week.

"He mentioned how we all on a journey together," the player said, "and sometimes we fail but we got to be prepared to keep going together no matter what. We knew what he was talking about."

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A former Patriots player who said he heard from people in the meeting said