As the soap opera around NFL reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel continues to swirl, there has been a lot of talk about how Russini’s reporting on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown influenced his trade market.
Some NFL observers have called for the league to investigate potential collusion between Vrabel and Russini, pointing to the Tennessee Titans’ trade for Julio Jones in 2021 as a pattern of alleged collusion.
One NFL analyst, though, is throwing cold water on that narrative.
NFL Analyst Isn’t Buying that Dianna Russini Impacted Trade Negotiations
In 2021, Russini had incorrectly reported in 2021 that the Atlanta Falcons had received an offer of a first-round pick for Jones. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Russini reported this in order to scare away other teams and cool the market for Jones, which then allowed Vrabel’s Titans to swoop in and land the star receiver and a 2023 sixth-round pick for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick.
“Her report also downplayed the Titans’ chances of landing Jones, calling them a ‘long shot,’” Florio noted. “Putting out the word that the Falcons had been offered a first-round pick could have had a chilling effect on any team that may have been considering offering a second-round pick. Calling the Titans a ‘long shot’ allowed them to maneuver quietly for Jones.
“Given the relationship between Vrabel and Russini, it’s not crazy or reckless to wonder whether her reporting was directly or indirectly connected to the effort to help the Titans get Jones on the best possible terms. Which, of course, will bolster suspicions by Eagles fans that she had been working more recently with Vrabel to get Eagles receiver A.J. Brown on the best possible terms.”
On Sunday, Nick Cattles of the “Locked on Patriots” podcast, pushed back on that narrative, calling it “pretty unbelievable” that Russini’s reporting influenced trade talks between the Eagles and other teams, including the Patriots.
“One of the things that is pretty unbelievable to me are those who think Dianna Russini had enough reporting power to shift trade compensation,” Cattles wrote. “Could she try? Sure. Did it impact deals? VERY hard to believe.”
One of the things that is pretty unbelievable to me are those who think Dianna Russini had enough reporting power to shift trade compensation.
Could she try? Sure. Did it impact deals? VERY hard to believe.
– Russini isn’t/wasn’t the only NFL Insider
– Schefter/Rapoport…— Nick Cattles (@NickCRadio) May 10, 2026
Cattles then listed off a number of reasons why Russini didn’t have the pull to do this, including that Russini “wasn’t the only NFL insider” since ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport are widely regarded as “the two best nationally.”
“Local insiders also play a role, sometimes bigger, depending on market,” he added. “Do we think people in the game don’t try to use reporters all the time? Do we think Russini’s reporting would trump the actual talks? Vrabel hasn’t had personnel say for the vast majority of being an HC (’22 in TEN and his first two years in NE).
“Do we really think there were teams talking and said, ‘Wait a minute, Dianna Russini said this guy’s not worth that, so we have to start over.’ LMFAO. No, they’d be on the horn with fellow GMs. They’d be in contact with Schefter/Rapoport/local writers doing their due diligence. IMO, it’s a ridiculous notion.”
The NFL has stated that it won’t investigate the Vrabel-Russini scandal, referring to it as a “personal matter.”
After the initial photos of Russini and Vrabel at an Arizona resort were published, the former resigned from The Athletic while the latter stepped away from the Patriots on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to undergo counseling alongside his family.
Russini and Vrabel’s alleged relationship has transcended sports and become mainstream news, and the scandal doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, especially since new details and resurfaced social-media posts seem to surface every single day.
