Former NFL insider Dianna Russini has continued to command headlines as the scandal with New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel continues to unfold.
In the latest development, NFL podcaster Tony Farmar is digging into an old (now-deleted) post from Russini and wondering if it proves that the Patriots tampered with a free agent.
NFL Podcaster Calls Out Dianna Russini’s Now-Deleted Post
Last year, before the Patriots signed offensive tackle Morgan Moses to a three-year, $24 million contract, Russini posted a report on X detailing that the New York Jets were set to let Moses hit free agency. However, in the graphic that she used, Moses was already featured alongside a Patriots logo. The post was quickly deleted and a new post was sent out, but the new graphic only featured Moses’ photo.
Crucially, this post was sent out before the legal tampering period last year. Even at the time, Russini’s post generated controversy. The day after she posted the graphic, Chicago Bears writer Erik Lambert wrote on X, “Russini posted this yesterday, then deleted it before the tampering window opened. She knew Moses was going to NE, meaning the Patriots were already negotiating before they were allowed.”
Russini blamed her photo editor at the time, but given the alleged affair between her and Vrabel, her mistake is even more interesting in hindsight. Did she have inside knowledge from Vrabel that Moses was planning to sign with New England? And if so, is it because the Patriots were in contact with the free agent before the legal tampering period opened?
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On Saturday, NFL podcaster Tony Farmer explained the significance of Russini’s knowledge of Moses’ move to the Patriots before the legal tampering window opened.
“People completely misunderstand the implications of Dianna Russini’s deleted Morgan Moses tweet [2025] – it’s not potential evidence of wrongdoing between Russini and Vrabel. It’s potential evidence of alleged wrongdoing by the Patriots (tampering) and evidence Russini and Vrabel talked about that alleged wrongdoing by New England,” Farmer wrote.
“People on X called for an investigation at the time. Most journalists and the NFL completely ignored it. If the NFL had investigated, it might have learned that Vrabel and Russini are close.”
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Since the pictures of Russini and Vrabel at an Arizona resort first leaked in April, there has been plenty of discussion about the ethics involved in the relationship between the reporter and the Patriots coach. The Athletic is still investigating Russini’s conduct. As of now, the NFL has shown no appetite for investigating the situation (either from a personal-conduct or tampering angle), but that could change if additional evidence surfaces.
Additional photos leaked and filled in the timeline of Russini and Vrabel’s alleged relationship, as pictures showed the pair kissing at a New York bar in 2020 and renting a private boat together in 2021 when the reporter worked at ESPN and Vrabel was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
