Some mistakes are more egregious than others. In recent weeks, the Associated Press has faced some scrutiny for its part in the Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel scandal.
While the AP assuredly didn’t know what was taking place behind closed doors, they haven’t exactly been willing to address the situation head-on either. Now, they’ve been placed under the microscope by an NFL podcaster.
Podcaster Targets AP Over Dianna Russini Coverage
One aspect of the AP that some who pay close attention to the NFL have taken issue with is their apparent refusal to release Russini’s awards ballot. They’ve had no issues offering full disclosure by revealing the full ballots in years past, but for whatever reason, opted against releasing the results from 2025.
Now, outspoken NFL podcaster Tony Farmer is sounding the alarm, saying the “worst part is the complete silence and suspicious refusal to answer questions.”
“It’s not just that the AP won’t release Dianna Russini’s awards ballot (like they did the prior year for all voters),” Farmer wrote. “The worst part is the complete silence and suspicious refusal to answer questions.
“In fact, it appears Russini is still an NFL awards voter as of today because nothing has been said to the contrary.”
It’s not just that the AP won’t release Dianna Russini’s awards ballot (like they did the prior year for all voters).
The worst part is the complete silence and suspicious refusal to answer questions. In fact, it appears Russini is still an NFL awards voter as of today because…
— Tony Farmer (@Tonysmarkettips) August 4, 2026
Farmer has been one of the most vocal voices online relating to all NFL-related conspiracies this offseason.
As he continues his crusade, some have encouraged Farmer to continue asking the tough questions, raising awareness about uncomfortable topics that are often buried before all the pertinent answers are revealed.
In any event, it appears that the Associated Press has no interest in providing full clarity when it comes to this past season’s voting results on things like the All-Pro teams and Coach of the Year ballots. Could their hesitancy stem from uncertainty surrounding Russini’s voting process?
Some certainly appear to think so. Why else would the AP opt for secrecy this time around? As Farmer suggested, the silence is a bit “suspicious,” especially when so many are seeking answers.
Who knows, maybe the AP will wake up suddenly and have a change of heart, releasing their full voting results so the public can pore over the information. Yet, considering there’s an active investigation by her former employer, maybe there’s a reason that information hasn’t been made public yet.
