Vrabel-Russini drama reveals that everybody loses if audiences can't trust your coverage

First, let’s extend every benefit of every doubt to Mike Vrabel, head coach of the New England Patriots, and Dianna Russini, the NFL insider, most recently employed by The Athletic, with whom he was spotted at an Arizona resort last week.

Vrabel and Russini are both married, but not to each other. Nevertheless, they were spotted in Sedona, hugging, holding hands with interlaced fingers, lounging in a pool, and then a hot-tub. I’m pretty sure the scientific term for that kind of carrying-on is “canoodling,” but that word also drips with the exact kind of judgement we just pledged to suspend.

When confronted with the photos, Vrabel said the idea they hinted at broader bad behaviour was “laughable.”

Russini, for her part, also denied any extracurricular shenanigans, and her bosses at The Athletic echoed her contention that the published pictures “lacked essential context.”

The Athletic also placed Russini, who came over from ESPN in 2023, on a de-facto suspension while it investigated the story behind the viral images. This past Tuesday, she quit, explaining in her resignation letter that leaks and speculation were imperiling the workplace investigation, and that she didn’t want the drama to define her career.

I submitted my letter of resignation to The Athletic. Everything I have to say about it is below. <a href="https://t.co/401nrtbEsj">pic.twitter.com/401nrtbEsj</a>

In his memo to employees at The Athletic, executive editor Steven Ginsberg stopped a long, long, long way short of vindicating Russini of any ethical breaches.

“As additional information emerged,” he wrote, “new questions were raised that became part of our investigation.” 

As for Vrabel?

He hasn’t spoken to the media since last week but he’s still employed,